I don't know what the botnical name is of this plant, but the bloom look like kitten feet, balls of white fluff with the nails sticking out, I think in is on the small side and an annual.
is this it? http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/fld_pussytoesx.htm or this http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1683/
I have seeds of the Pussytoes plant that grows wild here in east Texas, if you are interested please LMK. Here's a picture of them, they bloom very early spring...as you can see before the leaves are on the trees!! LOL