updated 2-28-2023

Winter Aconite - Eranthis hyemalis
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) Zone 4

This unique butter cup is the second earliest plants to bloom in Southern New England only a week or two after 'Arnold's promise' witch hazel. The visual part of the solitary flower actually is the 6 yellow petal-like sepals which is about 1" across. Quite often the flowers popped up through the snow in the end of the winter. Leafy bract situated right under flower which also often mistakenly identified as the leaves. The deeply divided basal leaf with long petiole develops after the flowers is gone and die back in the summer. Will reseed or can be propagated by the tubers. Plant grows about 3-6" tall. Grows in full sun or partial shade area. Excellent for naturalized planting.

Simple thing, simple pleasure. Life is full of surprises and with abundant of joys. If you slow down and take time to look around, you will find a lot of amazing things right beneath your feet. These pictures show you the different faces of the tiny little wonder- no matter it is rain, snow or sunny. You can also appreciate the solitude of the single flowers as well as the mass groupings.