think floral [shop local] Garden-variety prints are in bloom all over, helping to combat the bleak of winter

In February, Punxsutawney Phil is the only living thing that dares to pop up from the ground. Daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops know better. They’re still resting in the frozen dirt. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait for flower power.

No, the Awesome Blossom you ate at Chili’s last weekend doesn’t count. And before you get your hopes up, the garden shows are still a month away. But at local shops, everything’s coming up roses – daisies, poppies and tulips, too.

Clearance sales aside, this is generally a bleak time of year for hard-core shoppers. Winter trends are starting to look tired, and spring’s best looks haven’t hit the stores yet. But this new crop of florals is enough to banish the swing-season blues.

Take, for instance, the print catalog from Anthropologie. The Beanstalk skirt on the cover (with herringbone tights, no less!) is so cute I’m almost convinced that spending $128 on a skirt is a good idea. Almost.

When I saw the floral ballet flats from Sam & Libby at Kohl’s ($34.99), they melted my frozen heart. It had been too long since I felt this way about shoes – it was like we were sole mates.

And the tops! These days, the juniors section of T.J. Maxx ‘n More looks like a greenhouse, with floaty, Indian-inspired blouses and babydoll shirts that are flattering to even a winter-padded tummy. My favorite look right now is a dress over skinny jeans, and I found plenty of tantalizing options at Target, including the pictured teal and red “little dress on the prairie.” ShopGirl Jr. prefers the retro print paired with leggings. I say, fabulous either way.

If all this seems a little bold for your taste, don’t fret. Just accessorize instead. I’m wild about the tulip-print bags at Target ($12.99), even though their resemblance to the tulip skirt in the aforementioned Anthropologie catalog is more than a little striking. So cute. So cheap. So right with dark jeans and a white blouse. The same could be said for the oversize fabric totes at Old Navy – my fave is the coral and brown tropical print ($12.50).

For a more understated look, try the sherbet-colored floral clutch by Yak Pak ($16) at ShoeGazer in Ellsworth. The 20 percent off sale makes it even more enticing. If you want to jazz up a plain black skirt, try ShoeGazer’s rose-printed tights – or a colorful Asian floral. Given my current obsession with all things brown and pale blue, I couldn’t resist the blossom and leaf earrings ($30) by Geisha Weare, designed locally. Bella Colore in Blue Hill and Blossom Studio in Brooklin also carry the line.

These charming prints might just lure me out of hibernation. But I’ve still got to bundle up – I don’t want to wilt before spring arrives.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. Visit ShopBlog at http://community.bangordailynews.com/blog/4.