Here’s a little ditty from my youth:

“Spring is sprung, the grass is riz.  I wonder where the flowers is?”

Wow, that looks even more bizarre written out than it did playing over and over  in my head the last 40 springs.

Yes, folks, now we know why I became obsessed with grammar and words.

Anyway, the flowers are riz blooming.  The gold, then the yellow, followed by white, lavender and purple crocus, opening in that order.  That — plus the cat weaving maniacally around our ankles and purring like an outboard engine — both sure signs that spring is nearly here.