Gracing the forest floor
Wood anemones
Wood anemones are not especially large. They're certainly not rare. And I suppose that very few people even notice them very often. But I am a decided Anemone quinquefolia—Linnaeus thought it had five leaves, but that's variable—partisan. The easily overlooked plant that barely rises more than six inches above the forest floor or the edges of grassy meadows has been showing signs of blossoming for about a week, and with a bit of warmer weather, it's now in its white-to-pink glory. I spot anemones on almost every trek, and sometimes I find dense patches of the plant offering its unassuming grace to the onlooker, the photographer, and a host of bees forever grateful for a source of pollen and nectar. I'm grateful, too—for a source of gentle inspiration.