Last year, after searching for what I was beginning to assume were truly mythical plants, I finally discovered a patch of Hepatica, one of our earliest bloomers and a species I hadn't seen in at least 20 years. This year, I knew just where to look to re-find them and I had a pretty good idea about proper timing. What I didn't have, of course, was any clear indication that I had the stamina to hike the up-and-down trail for more than a mile to arrive at the stretch of quartzite soil that nurtured these rarities. I have to admit that it wasn't an easy trek, but, happily for me, I managed it, lack of land speed records aside. I was a little late getting to Hepatica Heaven and, in the gathering chill, the pretty flowers were beginning to close for the business day and show only their "fur" coats. Still, it was wonderful to locate them again, and they looked to have weathered the winter in fine shape. I was equally glad that I'd weathered the hike... and the return trip... in reasonably decent shape.