In my neck of the woods, the first serious harbinger of spring is the coltsfoot – small yellow flowers close to the ground. A friend had a few show up at her place two weeks ago. They showed up around my apartment building early this past week. Most people don’t look closely enough and mistake them for dandelions.
I love how they peek out from the gravel and bits of dead vegetation. You can’t miss them. Those small green leaves in front of the flowers are actually wild strawberry, they’ll get buried by the large coltsfoot leaves which will show up after the flowers are done.
They offer a cheery pause from all the gloomy news both in Canada and the US and the rest of the world!
jmn 
And in my neck of the woods (at Tasso Lake, literally IN the woods) it’s the arrival of the loons!
They arrived at Couchiching a few days ago…and at Tasso yesterday!! 😊
Karen
Your crocus are lovely, too. Love how they just sit there saying “Look at me!” Gotta time to enjoy them.
I walk out there every day and marvel about how hardy they are.
It’s definitely prettier than a dandelion. Here on the prairies, it is the crocus that heralds spring.