I look forward to those early flowering plants at the harbinger of Spring. If you are out at the nursery now, the brilliance of the Mahonia x media spikes of bright yellow flowers on vertical stems is a real attention-grabber. Deciduous shrubs like Winterhazel that blooms in the late winter and early spring before the leaves emerge is my personal indicator. The delicate bursts of color always remind me of a celebration of the coming season and provides a sweet fragrance to the garden. The Daphnes are another great choice to add for an early bloom that add plenty of fragrance to the emerging garden.
Silver Edge Daphne
These choices are just the tip of the iceberg (feeling kinda chilly right now), but there are some exciting ideas waiting for you at the nursery, so come out and wander around!
How do you determine soil temperature?
The Viburnum x juddi I got from Cloud Mountain 20+ years ago still stands next to my front porch and continues to fill the air with spicy scents every Spring. Delightful.
When is best time to plant shade trees
The best time to plant deciduous trees in the PNW is fall through spring. Exactly when depends on the weather. Try to plant during a stretch of mild weather with adequate moisture.