For the past 6 years, Keep Oakland Beautiful has been helping the city of Oakland bloom. Each fall this public/private partnership hands out free flower bulbs. (Most recently at Home Depot.) Individual volunteers and community based organizations plant them throughout the city.

Traditionally daffodils were the perrenial-of-choice but last year's financial crisis resulted in multi-colored freesias. Over the next few weeks, you may see a unexpected bursts of color in public places like schools, parks, and even freeway offramps. Spring has come early to Oakland this year.