“Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” - Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man Anemone americana (Round-lobed Hepatica) - thank you to Kristina Martin from Whistle Wing Prints for sharing this adorable photo with us she found on a walk in nearby Shushan. The flowers are popping out and already in bloom, and Spring has sprung. During the difficulties of Covid-19, take a break from being "confin'd from home" for a stroll outside to witness it.
From this link: Hepaticas are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. A single flower ½ to 1 inch across is at the end of a hairy leafless stalk. There are 5 to 12 petal-like sepals, usually 6, and numerous white stamens surrounding a green center. Petal color ranges from violet to white, sometimes pinkish. Behind the flower are 3 large hairy bracts each up to ½ inch long, oval to egg-shaped with a blunt or rounded tip. One plant has a tuft of a few to many flowers.
This is a perennial growing in a habitat that is part shade, sun; mixed upland woods.
We have these in the Arlington Rec Park also but were still not blooming as of 4/6/2020 when I was last there. Look for them. Thanks for the beautiful photo.