February 22, 2013 -- hairy bittercress, a season marker

Today was sort of dreary, weather-wise in Virginia, but anyone looking around outdoors would have found many, many signs of spring. Here's one of my favorites: hairy bittercress. A little clump of it was blooming (tiny white blooms) between the stones of my back patio and the steps to the back porch. I pulled up the whole clump (it's a weed, but a pretty one) with the intention of washing off the roots before putting it in a vase, but this little baking dish seemed to want to accept the roots, dirt and all.

The maple and other leaves in the photo came up with the hairy bittercress when I pulled it.