Early bloodroot bloom, home

Given how warm March has been—with, of course, an exception made for a one-day snowstorm and a few minor cold snaps—I'd been expecting that all of the early spring wildflowers would be blooming, well, extra early. But no amount of scouring the leaf litter, either at home or along one of my walking trails, had yielded a before-typical sighting of the first Bloodroot blossoms. These spring ephemerals, so-called because they're here and gone in a relative eyeblink, make their presence known as white-petaled flowers that, with just a quick glance, appear to be leafless. The foliage, however, comes above ground wrapped tightly around the bloom stem and in a few days will begin to unfurl. Better a little late than never, the Bloodroot announced themselves in one of my wildflower gardens today, a feast for the eyes and for the bees, who no doubt welcome their brief presence as much as I do.