Donna W. Dearborn

Robust yellow trout lilies greeted my mother and me as we hiked in Nebraska Notch in northern Vermont on a recent Mother's Day. We'd never seen so many lilies bursting completely into perfect bloom all at once. They towered like protectors over the ground-hugging yellow violets that nestled snugly into many of the trout-lily patches.

Delicate spring beauties carpeted the ground at the foot of tall beeches. Look! Dutchman's Breeches. Even more of them with lacy dark green leaves over here. White pantaloons dangled daintily from a thin stalk. What a treat to see this unusual wildflower we don't see very often.

Rich maroon trilliums reached for the sun - big and beautiful, open and happy. Whether they were in patches of 20 or in groups of two, we admired them all. Little hanging bells of the wild oats drooped gracefully. Canada mayflowers proliferated, and clusters of tiny white flowers rose above their shiny, dark-green leaves.

These fresh, perfect blooms were not nibbled, crushed, or blown over. They shouted out for attention and strutted their striking stuff. In this often-windy notch that was barely free of snow, these transient residents bravely dared to open fully and proclaim their glorious awakening after the long winter.