“The forest comes alive with wildflowers, each in their turn, offering an endless bouquet of beauty.” – Ed Lehming

As I write this, 5 centimeters (2 inches) of snow have fallen, burying what yesterday was a gorgeous display of wildflowers, but that is April in my part of the world. Where mere weeks ago I was hiking on ice wearing just a tee shirt, yesterday’s blossoms lay beneath a blanket of white. I’m not overly concerned as temperatures are forecast to increase through the day and the snow will be short lived. I’m sure it will have done some damage but it never got cold enough to freeze most of the plants, they are, afterall designed for this climate and there will still be plenty of cool nights ahead.

The snowfall makes me appreciate even more what has been offered thus far, including this lovely grouping of Hepatica blossoms. I was initially attracted to them by the nice mauve colouration and as I composed the shot I also noticed the slight teal glow near the centre of the blossoms. And, as I find more and more now that the insects are at work, something has already begun to snack on the edges of the petals, though for me, it makes it a bit more natural than a pristine blossom.

So, as the snow outside my window begins to melt away, I have this image to remind me of the promised beauty yet to come.

Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800