they're here

Toothworts sprouted today. Most have a good bit of growing left before they flower, but that will not take long while the days are as warm and bright as today. Soon our woods will be sprinkled with a pinkish white that is the starter's pistol on the wildflower bloom, cutleaf toothwort.

Sure, bloodroot and hepatica can emerge earlier, but their appearance does not foretell spring like Dentaria laciniata. Bloodroot and hepatica are hard to find, whereas toothwort is all over the place. It is the uncurling of their stalks that defines the start of spring, and it was today.