Hepatica nobilis

Hepaticas have been blooming around the Piedmont for the past several weeks, and will likely continue to bloom for a couple more, until the termperature warms up too much. Since they are such early bloomers, the delicate stems are protected from freezing by the soft, shaggy hairs (trichomes) seen in the photo to the left. Though the flowers are most often seen in a delicate shade of blue, they can be found with white blossoms.

Red maples in bloom

Red maples (Acer rubrum) are in full bloom around the Piedmont, and worth getting out to take a close look. I used to think the red "bloom" was just the infancy of leaves forming, but now realize they are full-fledged flowers.