It’s been crazy weather here in Connecticut.

Yesterday, I woke to drizzle and temperatures around thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit. By the afternoon, it was sunny and around sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

We had a long, cold and blustery winter; overall, there was little snow.

Despite the cold and varying weather, plants are starting to grow.

I don’t know how.

Lenten Rose – Helleboris sp.

One of my favorite early spring bloomers is Lenten Rose (Helleboris sp.).

I cut back the foliage last fall, and the plant is performing wonderfully.

Some years, I don’t cut the foliage back until spring.

There’s no correct answer.

Oriental Poppies – Papaver orientale

While poppy flowers are delicate, poppy plants are tough as nails.

These poppies are emerging with some nights below freezing and cold, damp, windy weather.

Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale) thrive in inhospitable environments and love hot, dry soils in cold climates.

Oriental Poppies prefer full sun to partial shade and won’t tolerate damp soils (over-irrigated) or organic soils (over-mulched).

Catmint – Nepeta sp.

Over five years ago, I planted one of the catmint cultivars, most likely Walkers Low (Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’).

Ever since, I’ve watched catmint spring up everywhere in my yard. When I say everywhere, I mean all over the place.

The catmint has reverted to the species, and if I don’t cut it back, it will grow about three feet wide and two feet tall.

It’s a stout grower.

I like the look of catmint spread through the gardens.

Catmint prefers dry, inorganic soil and full sun to partial shade. It will also do well in average garden soil.

Damp soils (over-irrigated) and organic soils (over-mulched) discourage Catmint.

I never see catmint thriving where its boggy or damp.

Cornell Pink Rhododendron – Rhododendron mucronulatum ‘Cornell Pink’

The buds are swelling on my Cornell Pink Rhododendrons.

This grouping was planted about five years ago.

Cornell Pink Rhododendron should be placed where it can shine for two to three weeks in the spring and blend in the rest of the year.

Cornell Pink Rhododendron is covered with pink blooms from early to mid-April.

Even though Cornell Pink Rhododendron will never be as compact as a PJM or Olga Rhododendron, you can prune it immediately after bloom to keep it more compact.

This Cornell Pink Rhododendron hasn’t been pruned in years.

Daffodils – Narcissus sp.

My daffodils are about three inches tall.

Daffodils bloom earlier if planted near asphalt, beside a house, or amongst boulders.

The Daffodils in my yard are older cultivars that aren’t as showy as the newer cultivars.

Daffodils are tough as nails and grow almost anywhere except in wet soils and deep shade.

Darwin Hydrid Tulip – Tulipa ‘Apeldoorn’

Last year, I planted Darwin Hybrid Tulips in a raised bed, hoping to use them as cut flowers.

You’ll notice Catmint growing among the tulips.

Catmint plants sometimes attract cats who enjoy sleeping in and rubbing against them.

Please let me know your favorite early spring plants in the comments below.