Time of the blue anemone

Blue anemone in triplicate, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Stages of the blue anemone, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Blue anemone leaf, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

One of the first spring flowers here in Finland is the blue anemone (Hepatica nobilis). They are now to be found in many places here nearby. Although the flower is a rare one, it doesn't seem to be on the way to disappearing.

It is not a flower to be picked and put into a vase filled with water, as it doesn't survive long. But out in the nature it is a lovely thing, with a multitude of blue hues, from almost white to deep purplish color. Also the leaves of the flower are beautiful, and they survive the winter. Some of the leaves are reddish instead of green.