This year, rather than March coming in like a lion, February ended that way. As many of us are still looking at blackened snow and ponds at every intersection, we may also be shaking our heads over recent global developments. Perhaps it’s time to focus on hope.

For me, the search for early-blooming flowers is a wonderful reminder that nature endures, that Spring will come and there’s always room for hope and moments of joy.

On warmish days, I’ll be taking longer walks, searching out early blooms. I may have already missed snowdrops, their small white flowers popping up as early as February. It’s time for crocuses, the harbingers of Spring, though. I’ve discovered that they are sensitive and resilient – characteristics true of many of Tomatoes. They pop their heads up at the first hints of warming and quickly retreat in the face of yet another snowstorm, reemerging as a bit of warmth returns. Sounds like what many of us have been doing.

There is one home near me that has a lawn full of crocuses. I’ll be visiting it daily. Early March also brings tulips and an old farmhouse’s yard will be full of yellow blooms as well as violets in weeks to come. Ah, and forsythia! Another harbinger of Spring.

Some of you may be planning your gardens. Some of will be admiring other people’s flowers and awaiting nature’s largess appearing in our greenmarkets.

All of us can find ways to appreciate nature’s beauty and the promise of good things to come.