Sign of Spring

Yesterday during the brief warm spell I took a walk through Cedar Bend Nature Area, and also adjacent land owned by the University of Michigan.  Cedar Bend Nature Area is the oldest park in Ann Arbor.  Snow had retreated faster on the south facing hillside overlooking the Huron River and I saw this sign of Spring.

 

In the dark lower wetter spots, Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus in the Araceae family) was peeking out.

Also, I came across this leaf, Round-Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica americana in the Ranunculaceae family), which survived intact from last year.  I wonder if it is still collecting solar energy for its roots.

Cedar Bend Nature Area today.  Old man winter is having a last laugh, but that sign of Spring, now buried under the snow, was unmistakeable. 

Wildflower of Michigan 2014 conference

I attended the Wildflower Association of Michigan, also known as WAM, conference yesterday and had a wonderful time.  Seemed to be a whirlwind of networking opportunities from the moment I stepped in the door.  I re-connected with several colleagues and met many potential new clients, whom already had a strong interest in being ecologically sensitive in their projects.

I would encourage any one with merely a slight interest (or less) in wildflowers to strongly consider getting involved with WAM and attending the conference next year.  Doing so will open your eyes to a plethora of wildflower possibilities and of people working to not only beautify our surroundings but do so in a manner that is healthy and natural.

OOOkay...I will include a picture in this post just because.

Photograph of Round-lobed Hepatica (Hepatica Americana in the Ranunculaceae family) in September 2012 in the Porcupine Mountains.  I am hoping to see the flowers again very very soon.