First aconite

The tree murderers arrived this afternoon to begin the destruction of the doomed woodlot across the street, but they didn't do more than park their equipment and do some perfunctory brush clearing. I can only hope that they're charged by the developer with being judicious and leaving as many of the trees as possible, but all that's out of my hands. The only thing I can do is document... and try not to let it upset me too much. Alas, I wasn't having too much luck on the latter front, but a sighting on the south side of my house, which obscures the killing fields, did succeed in buoying my flagging spirits. In a flower pot now snow-free and warmed by the foundation, this year's first-blooming member of the Winter Aconite clan opened one cheery, yellow blossom. Aconites always duel with the crocuses for the honor of being the debut flowers, and while the crocuses looked to be the winners in 2015, last week's snow and cold set them back and this one aconite snuck over the finish line. Sunrise on the ridge! We'll leave sunset across the street for another day.