Worth a closer look.

For years I have enjoyed the company of a common house plant for its beautiful patterned leaves and sometimes noticed (and ignored) a tiny white blossom on it. The large leaves measure about 6” X 5″ and at the base of this one you can see some tiny buds.

Even though I have long been accustomed to looking closely at tiny wildflowers, I never looked at the tiny blossoms of this plant (which measure only 3/8” across) until yesterday, and here’s what I saw when I did:

Maranta leuconeura, Marante, Prayer Plant, “Kerchoveana”

November Marigold

Clematis

This seed head of a clematis flower that survived a very harsh winter is almost prettier than the flower itself was.

Spring is developing quickly now

Today the first crocus of the season is starting to bloom:

and the first Bumble bee of the new year made its appearance. (This was a “hip shot”: the Bumble was a very quick and very busy bee).

The first Draba verna is also blooming on a warm cliff just above the river.

A parting gift from summer

Suddenly, a few days ago, this little flower appeared in a sadly neglected flower bed. I had never seen one here before, and so it’s a first… and certainly the last… blossom of our long hot summer.

While waiting for the wildflowers…