In the depth of winter, this is the day the gardener dreams about. Certainly, there are abundant blooms, but the background of green is beginning to fill. Many of the emerging leaves are marvelous.

Japanese maples are favorites in every season, even the naked silhouettes in winter. Leaves unfurl gracefully, many alongside glorious blooms.

With recent warm temperatures, change comes quickly. Flowering of hellebores was delayed by a month long cover of snow, and now the vibrant color of many blooms is fading. On trees and shrubs, yesterday’s swollen bud becomes today’s leaf.

Native dogwoods (Cornus florida) should flower in another week, with leaves following close behind. Leaf buds of Chinese dogwoods (Cornus kousa) and hybrids are swelling, but leaves are emerging on the native Pagoda dogwoods ( Cornus alternifolia). The new leaves of the variegated ‘Golden Shadow’ are delightfully bright (below).

This spring, the dogwood should finally gain enough size to stand out in its position outside the sunroom, though I was instructed by the assistant gardener (my wife) not to obstruct this view. I will happily accept the blame.

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is the first tree into leaf in the shaded side garden with flower buds quickly following the unfurling leaves. With a series of warm days, the dainty leaves gain in size (above and below).

Leaves of the nearby Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) are slower to emerge. Foliage near the ground is first, with leaves covered in small hairs (below).