Isn t Spring terrific? If we re glad that Winter is over, think how the bees must feel. Now they can get outside and work the Spring-flowering plants. Of the early-blooming species, here are some perennials that yield both nectar and pollen.

Though these garden flowers are seldom plentiful enough to produce pure varietal honeys, they remain helpful to bees. Like many cultivated plants, the ones below prefer rich, moist, well-drained soils.

BASKET-OF-GOLD (Aurinia saxatilis)

Also known as gold dust, golden tuft, and rock madwort, basket-of-gold is adapted to zones three through nine. This European native is a very popular rock garden plant. Though it grows well in both full sun and partial shade, the latter extends the life of the plants.

About eight inches in height and somewhat wider, basket-of-gold has a mat-forming growth habit. This has attractive, silver-gray foliage. The basal leaves are slightly larger than the upper ones. Appearing in terminal clusters over a period of a month or so, its blossoms are very tiny and four-parted. Normally, they re bright yellow, though an apricot-flowered variety is also available.

If neater-looking plants are desired, shear them after they bloom. Other than that, basket-of-gold requires very little attention.

BLEEDING HEART (Dicentra spectabilis)

Hardy in zones three through nine, this elegant species is a longtime favorite for perennial gardens. Spots with morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal. A sturdy, heirloom plant, bleeding heart is about two to 2½ feet in height. The feathery, compound leaves are gray-green. In the dog days of late Summer, these may die back.

Opening freely in arching clusters, the graceful, spurred, heart-shaped blooms appear for several months from early Spring to mid-Summer. Usually pink to rose-red, they feature white inner petals. A white-flowering variety is available. In addition to the cultivated forms, there are several native species, such as the fringed bleeding heart.

If left alone, bleeding heart will spread, but it is never invasive. This perennial will also self sow. It rarely needs attention, and is unbothered by insects and diseases. Though bleeding heart can withstand drought, it will go dormant until the rains return.

FORGET-ME-NOT (Myosotis sylvatica)

This is also called woodland or garden forget-me-not. Suited to zones five through eight, it will survive in zones three and four if given adequate winter protection. Forget-me-not prefers partial shade particularly in the afternoon.

Forget-me-not is variable. North of zone five, it behaves as a perennial where it lasts for several years. In areas with mild Winters, gardeners often treat it as a Winter annual. For that purpose, forget-me-not is planted in the Fall, and blooms the following Spring. It readily self-sows.

Introduced from Europe and Asia, this plant has naturalized in parts of the eastern U.S. The ones growing wild will generally have slightly larger blooms than the cultivated garden plants. Around a foot tall, forget-me-not has spoon-shaped foliage in basal rosettes.

Initially flowering for about a month in early Spring, this can re-bloom several times during the Summer. The funnel-shaped flowers are held well above the foliage. Only ¼ inch across, they have five lobes and yellow, star-shaped centers. Though forget-me-nots are traditionally in varying shades of blue, they re available in other colors as well. About six inches tall, Victoria produces white or red blooms.

When grown in a garden setting, forget-me-not may suffer from powdery mildew.

HELLEBORES (Helleborus spp.)

The reliable hellebores are shining stars in shade gardens. They do best in neutral to alkaline soils, and generally exhibit fast growth. Native to Europe and Asia, these often self-sow.

For the most part, hellebores are essentially stemless. Generally evergreen, their large, shiny foliage is thick and leathery. The palm-shaped leaves are deeply divided into three to 20 segments. Often, these become tattered over the Winter months. They re replaced by crisp, fresh ones in the Spring.

Depending on the species, hellebores can bloom from December through the Spring. The flat or cup-shaped flowers occur singly or in nodding clusters. Their vividly colored sepals are often mistaken for petals. In fact, the true petals form funnel-shaped nectaries.

If consumed, these plants are poisonous, while the foliage can cause dermatitis.

Christmas-rose (Helleborus niger)

Christmas-rose thrives in zones three through nine. Around a foot tall and 1½ feet across, this is evergreen in warmer climates. The dark green foliage is toothed with five to seven segments.

Its flower stalks are reddish. Two to four inches wide, the solitary blossoms are greenish-white to white with touches of rose. Their centers are vivid yellow. If given protection during the colder months, Christmas-rose will bloom throughout the Winter into the Spring. Some varieties have larger flowers.

Corsican Christmas-rose (Helleborus corsicus)

This species is somewhat tender with its Winter hardiness limited to zones six through nine. About two feet in height and almost as wide, Corsican Christmas-rose has spiny, gray-green foliage. With white veins, these are three-parted.

Corsican Christmas-rose produces masses of cup-shaped blossoms with up to 30 per cluster. These pale green flowers have hints of dark pink. In areas with mild Winters, they open from December onward.

Green hellebore (Helleborus viridis)

This slow-growing, deciduous species performs best in zones six through eight. Reaching one to 1½ feet in height, the foliage is very finely divided with downy undersides. When young, the leaves have a purplish tinge. Green hellebore is named for its pure green to yellowish-green flowers.

Lenten-rose (Helleborus orientalis)

Of all the hellebores, this is the easiest to grow. It does well in zones five through nine. Native to Asia, Lenten-rose is about 1½ feet tall and two feet across. The finely toothed leaves are borne on long stems. Its foliage is lighter colored than that of the Christmas-rose. Held in clusters, the pendant, cup-shaped blooms begin opening around March. These may be white, green, or any shade of purple. Up to four inches wide, they re decorated with dark blotches.

Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)

Also known as bearsfoot hellebore, stinking hellebore is hardy in zones three through nine. Reaching 1½ feet in height, it has an equal spread. This European native eventually forms clumps. With up to nine segments, the foliage is deeply divided. Its ill-smelling blooms, an inch across, may be purple or green. These are present from late Winter through the Spring.

JACOB S LADDER (Polemonium caeruleum)

Doing best in zones four through eight, Jacob s ladder is adapted to full sun and partial shade. The latter is recommended in warmer climates. If protected from afternoon sun, its blossoms will last longer.

From 1½ to three feet in height, this upright European plant is over a foot wide. It is readily distinguished by the attractive, alternate, fern-like foliage. Arranged in a ladder-like fashion, the small leaflets are uniform in size and shape. The name purportedly refers to the ladder Jacob saw in his dream.

Freely borne, the nodding, terminal panicles of small blue flowers emerge in Spring. One inch wide, these continue to open sporadically throughout the Summer. Their pollen is golden yellow.

Several varieties of Jacob s ladder are available. A variegated form produces violet-blue blossoms with conspicuous golden stamens. In the Spring and Fall, Bressingham Purple has colorful purple foliage. Creeping polemonium, a related species, is found in open woods over much of North America. It is sometimes cultivated in gardens.

This carefree plant is generally left untouched by insect and disease problems. Rarely needing attention, Jacob s ladder needs no staking or trimming.

LEOPARD S BANE (Doronicum cordatum)

Suitable for zones four through eight, this reliable perennial is native to Sicily and Asia Minor. Tolerating both partial shade and full sun, leopard s bane does best with afternoon shade in hot areas.

Around a foot in height, leopard s bane is easily recognized by its heart-shaped leaves, nearly a foot wide. The deep green, toothed foliage clasps the stem. In Southern areas, this can die back during the hot Summer months.

Leopard s bane blooms for a month or so in the Spring. Opening terminally in tall flower heads, the cheery yellow blossoms are daisy-like. They re 2½ inches across.

Several varieties are sold. Finesse features very large flowers, while Magnificum is more uniform in appearance than the species plant. Madam Mason is less likely to go dormant in hot weather.

Easy to grow, leopard s bane can sometimes be short-lived. It will need watering during Summer droughts. To encourage re-blooming, deadhead the plant in the Spring after it quits flowering.

ORIENTAL POPPY (Papaver orientale)

Most appropriate for zones three through eight, Oriental poppy is a popular perennial. So far as exposure is concerned, it does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Poppy flowers are somewhat fragile, and can be damaged by strong winds. For that reason, sheltered locations are best.

This is originally native to Persia (modern day Iran) and the Mediterranean region. Oriental poppies can reach four feet in height with a spread of three feet. Gray-green, the foliage is lobed and toothed. This tends to disappear with the onset of hot, humid weather. However, it returns in the Fall. Both the stems and leaves are rough and hairy.

Oriental poppy is noted for its eye-popping, papery blossoms, up to six inches wide. These have prominent centers with dark purple or black blotches at the base of the petals. Though orange and scarlet are the most commonly seen colors, the palette extends to pink, salmon, white, and purple in some cultivated forms. There are well over a hundred varieties with some having double flowers, which are of less interest to bees.

Typically, Oriental poppies can spread by runners, but they aren t invasive. I ve never seen the plants develop any problems, but they re occasionally attacked by bacterial blight and aphids.

PURPLE ROCK CRESS (Aubrietia deltoides)

Sometimes called false rock cress, this resembles true rock cress. Both are members of the mustard family. Doing well in zones four through nine, purple rock cress prefers cool, moist growing conditions with some afternoon shade. It thrives in rocky or gravelly, limestone-rich soils. When grown in warm climates, this petite Greek native goes dormant during late Summer.

With a mat-forming growth habit, purple rock cress is an excellent choice for rock gardens. It is only six to eight inches in height with a spread of about 1½ feet. The gray-green foliage is spoon or diamond-shaped. Growing in the form of a rosette, this is hairy and toothed.

The cross-shaped blooms appear in masses on upright stems. With four petals, they re ¾ inch wide. Most often, these are lilac, violet, or true purple, but are sometimes red. Several varieties of purple rock cress are offered. Only four inches tall, Red Carpet has deep red blooms, while those of Whitewell Gem are violet.

Shearing the plants after they bloom in the Spring encourages a flush of new flowers. If it isn t divided every three years or so, purple rock cress can be short-lived.

ROCK CRESS (Arabis procurrens)

Introduced from Europe, this species grows well in zones three through eight. Preferring full sun, it will tolerate light shade. Like most rock garden plants, rock cress does best in an infertile, gravelly, well-drained soil high in limestone.

A low, spreading evergreen, rock cress has leafy stems that hardly reach a foot in height. It is 1½ feet across. With a creeping growth habit, this spreads by short runners. Occurring in a mass, the dark green foliage is dense and shiny. Usually hairy, it is oblong. There is also a variety with variegated foliage. Opening in terminal spikes, sweetly scented white flowers cover the plant. Very showy, these bloom for several months beginning in April. Less than one-half inch wide, they re cross-shaped.

Very easy to grow, rock cress will rot in heavy, water-logged soils. Cut this back after it quits blooming to keep the plant compact.

In the early Spring, there are nectar and pollen plants aplenty. Bees can choose from woody plants, bulbs, wildflowers, and garden flowers like these perennials.