Late January through early February brings visible swelling to red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) buds throughout the Pacific Northwest lowlands. These native shrubs, among the earliest bloomers in the region, develop tight crimson-burgundy bud clusters along bare branches in preparation for their spectacular late-winter flowering. Even before the flowers emerge, the swelling buds provide crucial early-season food for pollinators and signal the approaching shift toward spring. Look for these distinctive magenta-red buds on bare branches in forest edges, disturbed areas, and native plant gardens from British Columbia to northern California. Red flowering currant is British Columbia's provincial flower and one of the most important early-season nectar sources for rufous hummingbirds returning from their Mexican wintering grounds.