February Anemone

 My MIL gave me some anemone corms for my birthday last year. I soaked them in water to activate them and then planted them soon after, but nothing grew. And then, just a few days ago, I noticed this February flower had popped up in the garden, even beating out the daffodils whose closed buds are just starting to swell:

We are supposed to have below-freezing temperatures this week with a chance of snow, so I'm not sure if this beautiful flower is going to survive. It was nice to pretend for a few days that spring was on its way, even though it isn't. This flower has given me hope that the winter will end, though. And I'm also hopeful that some of these other anemone corms will wake up, too!