Tired of all the snow and subzero temperatures? We have good news. We’re already seeing the first signs of spring with daffodils blooming in the Alpine Garden! Although many Canadians consider forsythia the first sure sign that spring has arrived, there are quite a few bulbs, including daffodils, that bloom even earlier, in January or February.

Here is a short list of harbingers of spring to look for in the next few weeks:

Daffodil (Narcissus ‘Cedric Morris’) is always the first narcissus to flower in UBC Botanical Garden. It belongs to the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). This bright yellow miniature daffodil has a shallow trumpet with a distinctly pinched “waist.” The outer petals are shaded an emerald green where they meet the stem. A selected form of Narcissus minor, ‘Cedric Morris’ is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, and its flowers are fragrant.

Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) is a hyacinth relative that hails from Turkey. The genus name is derived from chionos = snow + doxa = glory, and the epithet honours the wife of the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier. The star-shaped flowers are composed of either white or vividly coloured petals, and thethe stamens are clustered in the middle of the flower, forming a short, yellow-tipped column. Plants enter dormancy soon after flowering. This exceptionally hardy plant is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, making it ideal for naturalizing in lawns or planting in rock gardens or in the foreground of borders and along walkways.

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) belongs to Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family. Winter aconite has yellow, cup-shaped flower that release a honey fragrance. Winter aconites can bloom as early as January, and often do, through the snow, above fine green or bronze foliage. Because the flowers are low to the ground, they are also useful for naturalizing, near walkways, as well as in borders or rock gardens.

Common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is the best-known and most widespread representative of snowdrops. The generic name Galanthus, is derived from the Greek gala (milk) and anthos (flower); the epithet "nivalis" means "of the snow", referring to the plant's early flowering, often through snow. Plants often appear impervious to cold weather. Flower stems are about 6 inches (15 cm) tall and bear solitary, drooping, white blooms with green spots on the inner segments. They look best when planted in clumps or naturalized along heavily trafficked areas.

Netted iris (Iris reticulata). This species, also commonly referred to as a dwarf iris, has large, lightly-scented flowers in shades of light blue to violet-purple, although white and yellow cultivars are available. Its foliage is delicate and grassy. One of the earliest irises, netted iris multiplies rapidly and is excellent for rock gardens and sunny borders.

Spring snowflake (Leucojum vernum) bursts into bloom with its small clusters of drooping, wide-open bell-shaped flowers as early as February. Leucojum means “white violet” and vernum means “spring.” The dainty flowers are white, except for small, green spots on the petal ends, and the strap-shaped leaves are dark green and glossy. Spring snowflake normally grows 15-20 cm tall (6-8 in), and is a good early nectar and pollen source for bees. It is best planted in clumps in borders or allowed to naturalize in lawns or near water.

Sources: www.weekendgardener.net and www.wikipedia.org.