hot p(l)ants: overlooked witch-hazels

IF GARDEN CENTERS WERE OPEN in February or March in cold-climate zones like mine, I predict that early blooming Asian witch-hazels (Hamamelis species, including H. mollis ‘Arnold Promise,’ shown), would knock the far-more-vulgar Forsythia out of the ring. I call the latter “vomit of spring.” Witch-hazel I call simply beautiful. (For more suggestions of shrubs to plant instead of the oh-so-overused forsythia, read on.)