For those who like tiny blooms, it looks like the period of the shortest days of the year is the time when butcher broom (Ruscus) normally blooms in this area, after a few years of observing. I love the evergreen foliage.
Butcher's Broom (Ruscus hypoglossum)
Same with Narcissus/daffodils.
The bottlebrush shrubs (Callistemon) in the park across from my office started blooming pleasantly early but I have no idea which species they are.
Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
Billbergia also blooms very early. Barely hardy here, the plants end up looking pretty beat-up but those blooms are worth having a few patches of this. Try to put where they won't get full of fallen leaves.
Queen's Tears (Billbergia nutans)
Bromeliad (Billbergia 'Foster's Striate')
