The signs of spring

Greetings,
So it has been quite some time since my last post. In fact, it is now March and the last time I posted was in October. Since the last entry, much progress has been made, both within the garden and beyond. It is now early march and the first signs of spring are revealing themselves. weather is hitting 50+ and the soil is beginning to thaw out. New bird songs are in the air and I am active in the garden. As noted on the blog, I am located in new england, which is quite cold. For all the new englanders reading, when do you start planting out, either direct seeding or transplanting? Others outside new england, where are you and when do you begin your outdoor gardening activities? What is the first thing that is typically done in your garden, when spring finally begins to reveal itself?