The state of early spring

This was the first day of spring this year in Philadelphia:

Neighbor M's yard, but you get the point

The ground was bare on the last day of winter but Mother Nature can be a bitch so she was like, "Spring? I'll show you spring, suckers!" Oy.

Just so I didn't think I was making it up that it was REALLY COLD this year, I checked and February 2015 was the coldest February in Philly since at least 1990 (as far back as I looked). March 2015 has been the coldest March since 1996. March came in like a lion and is going out like a lion in need of a parka.

So, even though I still need a hat and gloves to walk outside, the sun is bright and walk I do, looking for any little sign of life. There are a few.

Thank god for crocus

The little red wormy heads of peony

Phlox 'Blue Paradise' starting early

And I have some blooms inside. My Thanksgiving cactus, for example, felt bad for me and rebloomed. A late-planted amaryllis in the kitchen makes cooking more bearable.

Onward to better days ahead. How are things for you in early spring?