Thanks, linnea. Do the Kaufmannianas bloom with the Greigii? I have some Greigiis and they don't seem particularly early for me. They've just finished, while my neighbor's multiflowering hyacinths were done a week or two ago. So I'm hoping for the Kaufmanns to bloom just a bit earlier. About 75% of what I can find on 'Avalanche' describes it as early, so I think I'll just go for it. Dianne

Anemone nemorosa, perhaps. Here is a link that might be useful: Anemone nemorosa

I am pleasantly surprised at how well this is working out for you, ginkgonut. Next time I am at my parents' I think I'll try a few flowers myself of my Magnolia 'Wada's Memory'. Be sure you are regularly changing the water and recutting the Magnolia stems. The limiting factor is usually water uptake, which is impeded by bacteria/fungi clogging water conduits at the cut area. I assume you are actually cutting underwater too. Otherwise air bulbs blocking conduits could be a problem too. A few grains of sugar in the water couldn't hurt either. A lovely hare, Marie? Well, maybe as long as that hare doesn't multiply like rabbits.

I'll vote for late spring too. But late summer/earliest fall comes next - even though I don't like those earthy and yellow tones that much either. Lochinch butterfly bush in lavender, purple asters, cone flowers, Sungold buddleia in soft yellow - twenty tiger swallowtails fluttering. Monarchs. Gangly tithonias proving that orange can be elegant. Sedums absolutely alive with bees - bumble, honey and little emerald ones. Salvias and the roses making another flush of bloom - deeper colors on the roses, not all paled by the sun. No more Japanese beetles! The vegetable garden at it's most abundant - melons, green beans, tomatoes at every meal, tomato sandwiches for a snack. The tropical garden absolutely jungly. Hummingbirds coming through. Deep blue clean fall sky. Summer haze blown south.