Coltsfoot is one of our earlier spring flowers. It likes the edge of the woods, but it can sprout almost anywhere; these plants were growing at the edge of a parking lot in Banksville. The blooming stalks come straight out of the ground before any leaves appear.
Coltsfoot is a European import, but around here it is not invasive enough to be a pest.
For a fuller description, see the Tussilago farfara reference page.