This is crazy weather, a little scary even. Just waiting for the cold snap, of course i waited all winter and it never happened, i am zone 4, and my garden is in part shade, so things pop up a little later in my yard, but the crocuses are all ready on the decline, roses, and elderberry have leafed, Lilac have broken bud, Trillium, Bugsbane, Solomon's seal, hardy geraniums, bleeding heart, blue flag iris, Day Lilly's, and Soap wart are coming in strong, Oriental Lilly's starting to break through! Lupines have leafed out, and I have a lovely Sedum, angelina I think its called, a groundcover that turns a lovely red orange through the winter, is all going back to green, its such a tough plant, i left it in a window box over the winter, and its come back beautifully. I planted primroses yesterday they're doing well so far! My husband works in a vineyard, and I know he has concerns about early bud burst, with the cold front that's about to move in, we have noticed the spring migrants are early this year as well. The Osprey that nest in the Winery are back, herons are here, peepers have been going strong for two weeks, it is fun, but I almost feel like I'm not ready yet, so much work to do!

My Helleborus has been blooming now for about 2 weeks and people have stopped by to ask what it is.

My Aesculus pavia (Dwarf Red Buckeye) is getting ready to bloom for the very first time. I have waited 4 1/2 yrs to seer this tree bloom. Now I am hoping that the drop in temps won't destroy these early blooms. Below is a link to a photo of one of the branches with the developing blooms clusters.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Did your buckeye make it, penny1947? It's very pretty!