Willows

• Willows are one of the first trees to flower in spring.Pussy willow image by Dmitriy Melnikov from Fotolia.com
  
  One of the first flowering trees of spring are willows (Salix spp.). The soft knobs often referred to as pussy willows are the furry male flower buds that occur on a variety of willows, not just Salix discolor, the actual pussy willow shrub. Pussy willows start to appear in February, even in cold areas like Minnesota and Michigan, but they won't open enough for the pollen to form until April, when the female buds open. Willow boughs can be cut and brought inside to brighten up February's bleak days.
  
  

Witch Hazel

• Even before the flowers open, witch hazel's twisted branches are decorative.Witch hazel image by annalovisa from Fotolia.com
  
  Witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.) send out their flowers in January and February. Their yellow, orange or red, pompom-like flowers are comprised of long, strappy petals and are very fragrant. Common witch hazel (H. virginiana) is a native American shrub that can grow as high as 25 feet tall. Fall foliage color is clear yellow. Another native, the vernal witch hazel (H. vernalis) is a smaller, denser shrub that makes a good screen or windbreak. The cultivar Carnea has reddish-orange flowers. Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis) and its hybrids are 15-foot shrubs that make excellent specimens which flower abundantly from January to March.
  
  

Lenten Rose

• Lenten roses are long-lived, evergreen perennials.Lenten rose - Helleborus niger image by Accent from Fotolia.com
  
  Hardy throughout most of the United States, Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis) are evergreen perennials that start blooming in January or February. Their large, buttercup-like flowers come in a range of colors, including white, lavender and pink, and are often speckled. Lenten roses grow best in rich, moist soil and should be left undisturbed once planted.
  
  

Early Bulbs and Annuals

• Plant snowdrops in large drifts for best effect.Snowdrops image by Lambkin from Fotolia.com
  
  Many of the minor spring bulbs bloom very early, often while snow is still on the ground. Yellow winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) naturalize well and tolerate sleet and ice, just closing up their flowers until the weather improves. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) get their name from their habit of blooming even while winter still has a firm grip on the landscape. The small flowers look like tiny nodding tulips. These early bulbs make a great display when interplanted with pansies and violas, which when planted in the fall will begin blooming again during mild spells in February and March.