Signs of Spring: Purple Deadnettle

When I visited the house to feed the chickens the other day, the forecast rain was still some distance away. The sun was warm on my back, the chickens were foraging happily and there were wild flowers peeking through the long grass. It convinced me that winter is drawing to a close and spring is here.

This wild flower (alright, weed) is an early purple dead nettle or lamium purpureum. It's pretty and apparently edible too.