Johnny-jump-ups offer a bright splash of yellow at your feet in winter and early spring. You will encounter this plant scattered throughout several different plant communities.

The solitary sunny yellow flowers appear on top of long, slender stems. They are marked with dark brown centers and are about an inch to inch and a half in diameter with 5 petals, 5 sepals and 5 stamens. Blooming occurs from February to April. The bright green heart-shaped, toothed leaves are mostly found near the base of the plants and range from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches.

The genus name Viola is one of the common classical flower names (like Rosa). The species name pedunculata means "with a distinct stalk" and refers to the prominent flower stems. Johnny-jump-ups are the only member of the Violet family that grows natively in the region.

Contributed by Liz Baumann