So what's this beauty: Solved - Rhodora

[SwampDonkey]

I was walkin along a winter harvest trail and minding my own business. And look what I seen near my work area. The ground is imperfectly to poorly drained where I found this plant. And I'm thinning in a young cedar stand not far away. Its also on dry rocky terrain.



Leaves have not yet emerged. Ain't it purdy? Its found mainly in Canada and northern NJ, NY, Northeast PA and New England ;)

So what is it?

[etat]

Got it!!   Its a purple flower!!!!

[SwampDonkey]

None of you folks from Va, NC, TN or northern Georgia see anything remotely close to this flower growing under the oak forests? Hmm open up ya eyes @..@  !!  ;)

cheers

[Kedwards]

my guess is changed.. your clue to flowers open before leaves tells me it is Rhododendron canadense or Rhodora. we have the cousin catawbiense here..it does look a LOT like azalea though

[SwampDonkey]

Yup its Rhodora.

[edited, azalia is also a Rhodadendron ]

It does look kind of like azalia I guess. Also, false Azalia is common in the pacific north west.