Spring Has Sprung

I spent the past week in Florida of all places.... It was good; I had grand kids with me and we hiked and went to the zoo and the beach. But the whole time I was fretting over possibly missing the first week of ephemeral season here in West Virginia. I had slipped down to Camp Creek the day before I left to see how the Trout Lillies were doing and found them just barely opening up. I thought by today they would be about finished, but the few around the house have not progressed at all. The cold weather and surprise ice and snow storm on Thursday seems to have slowed everything up and today's 60 degree temperatures may mark the real beginning of the early Spring wildflower season.
      Tomorrow, I head to Brush Creek looking for Hepatica, Spring Beauty and others. Its an exploratory visit and an opportunity to get out with the grand babies. Today, I photographed Colts Foot, another introduced and common flower in West Virginia. What makes it interesting is its supposed medical or herbal benefits and it use in a confectionery from England called Coltsfoot Rock. 

 Colts Foot, #5 in the Big Year