The details of a mild winter several years ago are long forgotten, but I recall when the garden’s paperbushes (Edgeworthia chrysantha, below) began flowering before the end of January. I vaguely remember a second time when flowering started the first week of February. Both are recalled for the joy of flowers through the period of winter that often seems overly long and dark.

Almost without exception, this year being an exception, the paperbushes begin to show some color at the outer tips of their tubular flowers by the last week of February. In this second week of March, the first glimpse of color is seen though seventy degree days this week should quickly advance the swelling and coloring of the flower buds.

With an unusually cold winter and prolonged snow cover, it’s no surprise that the spring bulbs are slow to come into flower. I was pleased that two small clumps of winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis that are now fading) outside the sunroom were the first to flower. Long established clumps in the shadier front have disappeared. If I remember, I’ll plant more in autumn.

Snowdrops (Galanthus, above) are tardily coming into flower, including several forgotten clumps that were transplanted in the renovated space outside the sunroom in the rear garden. A few in the front have been overtaken by evergreen sedges (Carex), so I’ll look to move these as soon as the flowers fade.

A few crocus (above) have popped up, but there’s still no signs of others. I suppose the small numbers not pilfered by squirrels might be hidden or delayed by the wide spreading sedge. I’ll soon know, are the flowers late like everything else, or did pesky squirrels dig them?

Foliage of other bulbs is up, and some are easily identified as narcissus that should flower in another week. Outside the sunroom are spring starflowers (Ipheion) planted after the area was cleared for construction, but there might be something else mixed in. I’ll soon know.