
Now that the snow has somewhat disappeared, the ungroomed roadsides are exposed, so I keep an eye out for bits of green poking up among the bedraggled leaves and vines. Today I was rewarded: The tips of skunk cabbage blooms are standing proudly in the mossy, muddy verges. Not green, but still, they are among the earliest visible signs that winter is on the wane. Carol Spier, Mary Hawvermale photo