What's Opening Up in Your Yard?

Just two days into spring according to the calendar, we're already a month or more ahead of time according to the flowers, shrubs and trees.

I was astonished to see bloodroot blooming in my yard a week ago, and some of the plants are almost done and are starting to drop petals.

Jefferson twinleaf opened this morning – late, I thought, since it's usually the first.

Most surprising is that my wife's fussy hybrid tea roses have already spread their leaves when most years they would still be dormant.

The buds on our magnolia are showing deep pink, but that's nothing – the one in a neighbor's yard up the hill is in full bloom.

We live at the bottom of a cool north slope, and most things in my yard lag a week or two behind those with sunnier exposures.

So, what's budding and blooming in your yard? I have to believe there are some avid gardeners among Patch readers who have amazing tales of super-early activity outside, and can back it up with photographic proof.

You can upload your own photos to add to this gallery and write photo captions to go with them. Just click on the "Upload Photos and Videos" tab below the lead photo above.

You'll have to sign up on Patch and be logged on to do this, but that's a very simple process. If you aren't signed up, go ahead and click the upload button anyway, and you'll go right to a sign-up window.

And, if you have a longer early gardening story to tell than will fit in a photo caption, write it in the comments.