After a long winter that was like a houseguest who wouldn’t go, gardeners are happy it is spring.
Those who want to ensure an early burst of color next year can consider some bulbs and plants.
The first of the daffodils are beginning to bloom, but other specialty bulbs appear earlier.
The first is a low-growing, buttercuplike plant called the winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis). Once established, a colony will seed itself and eventually spread to form a carpet of bright yellow chalices, happy to poke above an inch or two of snow.
Snowdrops are also dainty but higher — 4 to 8 inches — with nodding white bell-like blooms. Some of the more unusually marked varieties command high prices among snowdrop fans, but the common types are pretty and cheap.
The two most popular types are the early flowering common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) and the giant snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii). The latter is taller, with larger blooms and fatter leaves.
Crocuses are synonymous with early spring, but the earliest of them are named Crocus tommasinianus.
They are cheap and should be planted generously; 200 bulbs aren’t unreasonable for a 25-square-foot space. They spread by seed and, after several years, can form a hazy violet carpet, either in a lawn or in garden beds.
This type of crocus is more squirrel-resistant and more delicate than the later Chrysantha varieties, which are good for an early April display. Barr’s Purple and Ruby Giant are darker and larger versions of the species.
Some miniature irises bloom in late winter. They are low-growing and exquisitely marked but require observation.
They will persist if planted in a sunny and well-draining bed. Look for varieties of Iris histrioides and Iris reticulata.
A few daffodil varieties will appear in the last month of winter; the best-known is February Gold, which often blooms in March.
Hellebores are perennials that deserve a place in every garden but not only because they flower in late winter. They do well in partial shade and can take dry conditions.
The most common type is called the Lenten rose, although varieties today are hybrids with the bloodlines of several species. They form clumps up to 3 feet across and can be planted as single specimens or as massed ground covers.
Varieties such as Pink Ice, Pink Frost and Red Racer look good in free-draining, frost-proof containers.