Purple deadnettle, Lamium purpureum

This annual member of the mint family has reddish leaves later in the season. The picture below was taken in January, 2010.

Same plant, picture taken February 28, 2010, shows attractive flowers.

Flower closeup:

Bird's Nest Fungus, Nidula niveo-tomentosa

I found this odd, 1/4" diameter, fungus growing on a 4-foot diameter log that had been down for a long time - it was covered in Pixie Cup Lichens. In Fall, Bird's Nest Fungi have spores inside the urn shaped fruiting body that resemble eggs in a nest. Unfortunately, it was too late in the season to photograph the spores.


Another empty "nest":

January 14, 2012 update
I finally found a nest with some eggs residing on a 1" diameter dead Elderberry branch: