Bulbils

While mowing up at the viewpoint, we came across these strange purple flowers.  A cluster of little spiky bits on a long straight stalk  

 

Closer examination and some advice from flowery expert Jane Gilliard led us to the conclusion that we are looking at a cluster of tiny bulbs, called bulbils.  The flowers have yet to appear.  This is Crow Garlic and one of the ways it spreads is by dropping these bulbils on to the ground where they become new plants.

This is what crow garlic looks like in the woods in January, almost like chives but in winter.