Since it was such a gorgeous day I took a walk around the Environmental Learning Center. I even found a log to lean up against and enjoyed the sounds and smells of spring apart from the city. Buds and some blossoms are appearing but for the most part we still look pretty brown. Not sure what this plant is but I do love the silhouette it has against backlight. Here is another image showing that spring is here: http://www.pbase.com/image/58938824
Teasel. It's originally from Europe. These heads persit through the winter. When new stems flowe in the summer, they start flowering in a band around the middle of the head, and flower both up and down the head simultaneously. Good in dry flower, fall arrangements. Don't know the US range, but have seen it often from Maryland down to Georgia. Most often I see it in Virginia, West Virginia. You see it on road embankments often. Much photographed for obvious reasons! I have a number of photos of teasel, but none posted right now.