The Best Winter Mulch for 'too early ' spring flowers is Snow.            Heather ( actually spring heath - Erica carnea)  is in bloom now, as are some crocus buds and early daffodil flowers. I was worried about frozen flowers and buds so I did place arched evergreen branches on some of my daffodil plantings - that will shade them from strong early sun, as well as protect them from freezing. Yes, sadly the daff flowers do freeze and sometimes the plants die from warm weather alternating with freezing winds and cold.  Thank heavens for snow!   I used to love planting bulbs that bloom extra early - but now that we are ALL a zone warmer than we used to be, that may not work so well any more. The sweet pussy willow branches in the photo are available now at www.wholefoods.com.They will stay just as they are if you do not put them in water at home.  Pussy willow is a huge, rangy tree/shrub that bears no resemblance to the cute bunny looking things that they are when cut. Placed in a vase dry, they will hold indefinitely and look a lot like spring.

Spring Heath, Tete a tete daffodil and pansies