The day dawned overcast but soon cleared to an amazing, dazzling intensely blue sky. We spent most of the day around the house: She, cooking, I finishing the publishing project. I ventured outdoors with camera in hand to enjoy the sunlight, shadows, textured snow, and fresh 45-degree (F) air.
Next to the door sits a planter, until recently covered in more than three feet of piled snow. The now-icy white stuff retreated gradually all day exposing a hopeful sign of spring… tiny green shoots poking out of the wet ground and out from under the miniature glacier.
We knew in our hearts those tough little plants would be waking up, even under the deep drifts; after all, they do it every spring. Still, it was good to see on this excellent, sunny day.
PhotonStopper 
What an amazing plant, to burst up through the soil to be met with snow, but to continue to grow, undaunted! What plant is this?
Hi, FS. It's probably a crocus. The shoots had to have been starting even whilst completely covered by icy snow… you can see the one is even bent over. Amazingly tough and continuing below freezing nighttime air temperatures won't even phase them! — JG
Ah, such a wonderful lesson in perseverance, isn't it! I am so happy to see them poking their head up above the soil. Maybe in a few weeks, things up here will start peaking out as well!