I have to stop feeling so darned guilty all the time: I had to work on my syndicated column all day, and when I did have some time to get outside, it was claimed by my need, imposed on me by my cardiologists, to get outside for a long, strenuous walk. Natural history, alas, had to take a backseat to the day's demands. Still, I try to at least pay attention to what's going on in the gardens and the nearby back woods, so, in the few minutes I had to pursue my passion, I found the first Brunnera flower of the year, a tiny charmer that resembles a Forget-me-not, and will, I hope, be blooming in pastel profusion throughout April. It was too chilly today to attract any pollinators but soon enough.