The crocus come first where I live, poking their delicate blooms through barely thawed ground, or even snow.  It makes me ridiculously happy to see them, maybe because I've almost lost hope that spring will really come shortly behind their appearance.  I swear that they do have faces, but I'll admit you have to want to see them.  Pleease e-mail me at:  pjones41@kc.rr.com.