A steady gust of bone-chilling wind blew across Lake Ontario and through the trails surrounding the Sterling Nature Center as director and naturalist Jim D'Angelo bent down beside a maple tree, brushed away layers of snow and searched for a sign of spring.

On this afternoon, he would have no luck. "Maybe next weekend," he said.

D'Angelo was looking for the winter aconite, one of the earliest flowering bulbs to bloom. The center hosted a winter open house Saturday to help expedite the arrival of spring.

The aconite's arrival, usually in late February or early March, signifies the break of winter's grip. Its six bright yellow pedals are thought of as golden rays of hope, pushing this oft-dreaded time of year to the back of the seasonal rotation.

D'Angelo believed limited snow cover was to blame for impeding the aconite's arrival; the deeper the snow cover, the more protection the bulbs have from harsh temperatures and the better the insulation.

But even with the lack of the aconite, all had a good time. Warm apple cider, hot chocolate and freshly baked cinnamon doughnuts were served to a smattering of folks who ventured to the preserve to take in the sights and trails.

Sun rays competed with the occasional snow squall. The ones that managed to peak through passing clouds made the chunks of ice piled up on the shores look like crystals. White caps crashed against the ice and the chunks pulsated up and down with hypnotic rhythm.

Inside, Bill Irwin, county employee, or "gopher" as he referred to himself, spoke about some of the exhibits the center displays. About two dozen nature photos taken by area photographers were positioned on a placard in the main room. They were the winners from the annual photo contest the center puts on each year.

Linda Chapman captured a misty shot of a country dirt road "just a few miles from here," Irwin said. She took first place. There's also a wall that details the history of the 1,400-acre plot the center sits.

The home, which now serves as the interpretation center, was built in the 1860s as a summer camp for a West Point graduate. Rochester Gas and Electric bought the land and proposed to build a nuclear plant there in the early 1980s. The late Cayuga County Legislature chairman Ralph Standbrook was influential in securing money to make the area a natural environmental preserve.

Across from the center, across Lake Ontario and about 55 miles to the north, lies Canada. Irwin said it was from there that locals sent for whiskey during prohibition times.

"Ships would come in and drop the barrels in the water," Irwin said. "The people on the shores would rope them in."

Staff writer Benning W. De La Mater can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or ben.delamater@lee.net