Hobble Bush: Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine, USA, March 2026 — Hobblebush is one of the earliest budding plants in our Southern Maine forests. In the warm spell we had in December, the buds were already forming, though they retreated during the cold snowy season we have had since. Hobblebush is a viburnum and goes by several common names: my favorite is “moosewood”. The hobble might come from “witch hobble” and the belief that the plant was somehow effective against witches, or used by witches to hobble others? That bud will burst soon into a complex flower head with tiny white flowers surrounded by large white petals. As it is one of the first to bud, it is by far one of the first to flower. The leaves will open into saucer sized light green hearts. I enjoy it in all its seasons. It is not subtle (except for the tiny flowers at the center) but it is bold and brave and that counts for something! Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 75mm equivalent field of view. Aperture with macro modifications. Processed in Photomator.