My cameo quince has been in bloom now for about 10 days just barely north of Washington DC. This is its first overwintering for the little shrub I bought last year and it has glorious color.

My Jetfire quince will be blooming within a week here in NH. It is a short (4') variety with creamy white flowers. When not blooming it is best as a background plant as its structure is a bit like a bad hair day.

Rhododendron mucronulatum and dauricum both bloom early.

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush) is really early and has tiny yellow-green flowers and a nice scent.

Cornus mas (Cornelian dogwood) has oodles of very small yellow flowers before forsythia.

My spring witch hazels (Hamamelis x intermedia and H. vernalis) have both been blooming for at least 3 weeks now, maybe longer.

I haven't been able to get a small Corylopsis to survive yet, though I will probably try again in a more sheltered spot than where I last tried.

Tonight is our first REAL winter night with temps in the teens. It will be interesting to see how well this quince holds up.

Anyone has free cuttings (flowering quince),.. I will pay for shipping.

Here's our old-fashioned quince today. It's thorny for sure. Also makes nice cut flowers.