First Open Flowers

Sometimes snobbish loyalty to native plants gives way to special characteristics.  Winter Aconite has earned a fair sized spot in our shade garden.  Early brilliant yellow petals and pollen are a real eye catcher although  pollinators have yet to be seen.  Late snow will do them no harm while last year's plant litter will slightly delay the emergence of an impressive patch of these plants.  Somehow it now seems like the next gardening season is well under way.

Having sinned once a repeat offence is guaranteed.  Snow Drops are also imports.  These white blossom parts have been visible for several days but most remain tightly closed.  Downward pointing blossoms placed very close to the ground can only be examined with a mirror or by snapping off a flower.  Neither is likely to happen so one must imagine what the reproductive parts look like.  In any event, we now have open flowers.