A flower bud in winter is a good symbol of hope, reminding us that spring will come again if we simply can endure. The shingled buds of the swamp azalea, pictured here along a path that connects Great Pond to the Province Lands Bike Trail in Provincetown, easily weathered the Feb. 13 storm that dumped several inches of wet snow on the Outer Cape. Rhododendron viscosum enjoys moist, acidic, organic soil and would be a great native addition to a shaded garden bed with drip irrigation. Plant it next to a door or walkway to enjoy the perfumed honeysuckle-like blooms in June and July, something to look forward to on a cold winter’s day. —Joe Beuerlein