Early riser

photo, Diane Carnevale

I have a mass planting of a zillion crocus bulbs in my Japanese maple grove that pop up every year around this time, depending on the severity of the winter. (read more about my crocus patch from a post last March here.) It's magical to see all the colors in bloom on a sunny, late winter or early spring day. The visual symphony starts with one early riser—always a yellow one. This trail blazer—a single string instrument—is soon joined by other other colored bulbs, other members of the orchestra. First, more strings—more yellow crocuses, then the wind instruments, the horns come blasting in regal purple ombré, and finally, the drums beat loudly for the crescendo. It's a beautiful performance every year, and it always starts with just one... early... riser.

photos, Dan Ryan