Short spring blooming perennials are up in late winter and early spring. These are low growing plants usually very hardy because they are native to mountain tops, also known as alpine plants; they are adapated to harsh drying winds and freezing cold nights. Some of these low growers are moss phlox (creeping phlox), primroses, pulmonaria (lungwort), hellebore, violets, anemones (windflower), and pasque flower and of course spring bulbs.

These plants can be planted anywhere in a bed, front center or back, where you would like a splash of color; as they are only short blooming taller summer perennials will grow up to cover their fading blooms and foliage. They adapt well to surrounding competition as long as their crowns are not completely covered. There are others that bloom in spring and last into summer such as bleeding heart, oriental poppy and solomon seal just to name a few.

Tips for early bloomers (Perennials)

• Plant early perennials where they'll get strong light in spring. Place shade plants such as violets and primulas where deciduous tree foliage will eventually protect them from summer sun. Newly purchased plants or seedlings can be set out in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked.

• Feed plants with compost or aged manure in autumn so energy is readily available to them in early spring.

• Remove protective leaf and evergreen bough mulches early, as soon as frost is out of the ground, allowing sunlight to warm the ground and stimulate early growth.

• Divide early-blooming, low perennials in late spring or early summer when they are finished flowering. Taller perennials such as lemon daylily and Solomon's seal can be divided in later summer or early autumn.