Even in long, cold winters, you can always count on ‘Tete-a-Tete’ daffodils to bloom in March. In mild winters, you may see this miniature early bloomer in February or even January.

Known botanically as Narcissus ‘Tête-a-Tête,’ this spring charmer offers golden-yellow outer petals that curl back to highlight deeper yellow trumpets.

Each stem produces two to three blooms that are just 6 to 8 inches tall, making them ideal for rock gardens or small borders. Plant them near a walkway so you can really appreciate their cheery yellow faces when not much else is around. Try mixing them with crocuses, which bloom at the same time.

‘Tête-a-Tête’ will naturalize and spread in your garden over the years, and its short, sturdy stems make it a good choice for indoor forcing. If you’re looking for another early-blooming daffodil, try ‘Rip van Winkle.’

Daffodils are virtually critter-proof — no deer, no squirrels, no bunnies — and a really good choice for Hudson Valley gardens. Plant them in fall, up until the ground freezes.

They are not fussy about soil as long as it’s well drained, and they like full sun. Keep in mind that most deciduous trees have not leafed out by the time daffodils come into flower.

Feed them with a bulb fertilizer such as Bulb-tone after they bloom in spring and again in the fall.

Let the foliage die back naturally when the blooms fade (the bulbs are still gathering energy for next year’s blooms). You can hide the yellowing leaves by planting daffodils among later-emerging plants such as ferns, lilies and hostas.