The early daffodils are blooming on the west side of the house. Although some late varieties are still only green buds waiting for warmer days, we already have a crowd of hardy characters in shades of cream and butter, bright orange and deep sunshiny yellow. They nod their heads in the still-chilly wind. The sun makes them look as beautiful as stained glass. I love to look at them closely. The crinkly, ruffled trumpets and smooth petals become an almost abstract composition. Best of all, this is only one of the first flowers. Spring and summer lay ahead.