I know what you mean, m2mbsr.
In recent years the weather has become more & more unpredictable.
Plants like tulip, peony, allium, crocus, hyascent, grape hyascent are tough. I don't protect them.
Plants like asiatic lily, trumpet lily, delphinium, hosta will sense a few warm days and noses emerge way too early. These guys are not tough and need protection. I have used twig/leaf debris piles, heaped loose mounds of soil to cover, cardboard boxes of all sizes, even have leaned cardboard panels against the house to form a protective 'tent'.
