first flower of the season

How do you define the first flower of the season? Usually in this climate, the answer is pretty clear: the first flower. But this year, with the rosemary under the porch overhang, it has been blooming constantly since November. Perhaps you could consider it the first flower of the season.


This erigeron has had some flowers on it all winter as well, though during the cold spells, the flowers looked pretty miserable. During the warm spells, like today, the flowers opened up, looking awfully cheerful.

The Iris reticulata cultivars are frequently the first flowers of the season during cold years. This one opened today, and yes, I literally had my face on the ground to take this photo. Last year, the majority of the flowers opened March 9, so this year is about a week or two early.