Hepatica

Falls Ridge Preserve, along the North Fork of the Roanoke River In Montgomery County, Virginia, is one of my wife's favorite places in the Spring. It is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy. At an elevation of 1500 feet, it is 1200 feet lower than where we live (2700), so the spring flowers start much earlier.

Yesterday, the Bloodroot and Hepatica were out. Here are a few shots of the Hepatica, taken with D200+18-200VR, all hand-held.

These flowers are basically white, and the blossoms are about 1/2 inch in diameter.



They can also be a pale pink:





and even a very light blue:



The conditions for photography were not good yesterday since we were there at midday when the light was very bright and the wind was blowing. I hope to get back at a better time with my macro lens and tripod.

 

Thanks, Gale and Dave.

My wife reminds me that these flowers are also called liverwort.

 

Thanks, Harry. You are right.

It's also hard to nail the focus when they are nodding in the breeze!