Crocus sativus blooming?
Tim Eck (Tue, 04 Mar 2014 11:30:37 PST)

About an inch across. They'll often flower best when they start to
accumulate smaller offsets.
But definitely protect from field mice or voles because they can wipe out a
lot in a short time - and make your apple trees fall over too (when they
move on to their roots).
Tim