Winter is dark and cold and drab. Thank heavens that winter has ended. We’ve opened the windows. We’ve assembled the patio furniture. We’ve tilled the garden. Spring has arrived in full force.

From the depths of the soil have emerged those most dependable of dependables: the perennial plants. Their annual return serves as a most welcome sight. That statement rings especially true for the spring blooming perennials. They waste no time. They shake off their slumber and flourish straightaway.

Here is a list of our favorite spring blooming perennials:

1. Peonies

Peonies merit adoration because of how diverse, intricate, beautiful and interesting they are. In our yard, we have a peony bush that was cut from one in our mother’s yard, which was cut decades ago from one in her mother’s yard. More than a flower, it is an heirloom.

2. Alliums

These alliums are tall perennials related to onions and leeks. They attract bees and butterflies, and their stamina almost shimmer.

3. Knockout Roses

Knockout roses come in many varieties. This one grows next to our front door. It began blooming last week and will continue blooming until the frost. It may not fit with these other perennials, which only bloom in the spring, but it is still a spring blooming perennial and belongs on this list.

4. Columbines

Columbines remind us of the Swiss Alps. We’ve never visited the Swiss Alps, but if we did go in the spring, we’d expect to see columbines. Columbines produce sophisticated little flowers, which look unlike anything else in our garden. They grow easily. We nurtured this one from seed, so we get a yearly reminder of our past triumphs.

5. Salvia

You know Salvia. They pop up everywhere in May. Within the mint family, these hardy plants make strong additions to low-maintenance landscaping, so they are particularly popular in communal areas. Their intrepid purple rods team together to form brilliant waves of color.