Early spring flowers challenge Sunday morning's snow in Du Quoin

It's kind of ironic that the groundhog did not see his shadow Saturday, predicting spring to be just around the corner, while getting two inches of snow Saturday night and early Sunday.

Early spring flowers challenged the snow in Mark and Jean Bullock's yard in Du Quoin. Snowdrops are celebrated as a sign of spring. The blooms look like three drops of milk hanging from a stem. Most snowdrops flower in winter before the vernal equinox in March.

Crocus are the most popular of late-winter/early spring bulbs. The cup-shaped flowers come in a vast array of colors from white to golden yellow to deep purple to bicolor.

Lenten Rose (Helleborus) is another late winter/early spring blooming flower. One of the best perennials for shade, it combines, evergreen foliage with beautiful winter blossoms of pink, burgundy, red, purple, white and green and lasts for weeks.