This is a Pedasites bloom pushing up through the winter ground in one of my gardens.

It may seem early, but these last few sunny days seem to have gotten things stirring: Sarcoccoca, the sweet-smelling, nearly invisible flower that is currently wafting its fragrance around town; those lovely, winter-blooming Viburnums in shades of pink; and -my favorite- witch hazels with wild blooms in orange, yellow or red and their distinct astringent, ultra-fresh fragrance. A walk in Seward Park this weekend revealed many fat tree buds, Hazel trees with opening catkins, and both flowering currant and Indian plum just about to bloom.