Good to see loads of bees round the open crocus's/crocii. This is only the third day this season that they have been fully out (sunshine) and they are starting to go over [sad] still, nice to see them

I've heard of dementia praecox but not rhodidendrum.

Galen here it is

Oh! I had one of those, but it died perhaps I should get another.
Can't wait for the summer though and my front patio where I sit in the sun.
I've bought loads of plants and when they arrive I'll have to get some containers. Don't like plastic but the large terracotta I want are so dear!
The terracotta looks best as my house is a red sandstone.

Lots if plants are praecox galen - just means early doesn't it.
You're nearer the sea than me. And lower probably. Am going to see kids in 4 weeks - surely winter can't last another month?

Praecox as in precocious. We have been known to have snow in April, Jess. But this year we won't....Will we? I have seen the odd flake falling from a blue sky this afternoon. Bizarre.

Yip, dementia praecox is also known as per senile dementia where senile is defined as being over 65[jhmm] honest!

Here in Normandy our forecast is for heavy snow over the next couple of days and -9 at night. Just saying.

Ouch! Where in Normandy are you? I love Normandy and Brittany

That should be presenile dementia!

Here in Dordogne I have a lovely tub of pansies in bloom - normal ones as opposed to the winter ones - daffodils are out and also a couple of flowering prunus are starting to show flowers. Still a very cold wind though but lovely and sunny. Temperatures are forecast to drop in the next couple of days.
Have lit the wood burner again - had to let it go out at beginning of the week as the very high wind caused back draught and the room was full of smoke.

We have snow here again in North Suffolk, very bleak and cold again. The Viburnum bodnantense is still flowering away, it's done well this winter. Today have been visited for the first time by a beautiful hare, I love them ....and later on, on the bird feeder was a kestrel .... he then flew to fence right outside the window so I had a really close look at him. Understandably all the other birds had disappeared.

We are near the Orne / Calvados border. Forecast is up to 20cm of snow. The school buses are cancelled already and they were going back after two weeks of half term tomorrow!

Oh dear! I bet the children are soooo disappointed!

Coming down thick and fast and the French tele has just said that we might get 40cms. OH has a bout of severe arthritis pain in his foot and is struggling to move so I will be spending a lot of time up and down to the woodpile. With that amount of snow I fear for the electricity supply. We have a big woodburner and plenty of bottled gas, but the trouble is that we lose the pump on the septic tank which is not good....

'Beginning to sound a bit like Christmas'

It's bright and sunny here in Cheshire but the second I opened the back door, I was hit by an Arctic blast. The big conifers across the brook are tossing madly and there is a trace of snow on the car windscreen. I've also been sneezing since I put my head out, so the wind is carrying allergens.

Famous last words. There's a blizzard outside at present and the snow is settling though now there is sunlight coming through the clouds!

Alternating blizzards and sunny spells. If you try to clear a path while it is sunny, you are chased indoors by the next snowstorm. #whydidibother

Remind me Mamie, where abouts in France are you? Here in the Jura, it was sunny this morning then rain, and now greyish. We are at 950m (our nearest town is Pontarlier) and no snow, although there is still some on the ground. Crocuses and snowdrops out for the last few days. Today was so colourful in the garden - several bright red bullfinches on our hornbeam, and our usual great spotted woodpecker on the bird feeder by my window + so many bright coloured bramblings and chaffinches, every kind of tit and sparrows + more.

I actually hope that snow will return once more so that our friends arriving week-end after next from UK will be able to cross country ski as planned. Then Spring can come

ooops Mamie, just seen your location in previous post, sorry

We are in the south of Calvados, Basse Normandie. Rain first thing then lots of snow, now sleety. Lots more snow tonight I think. OH has a doctor's appointment tomorrow, but I doubt he will make it. All school transport cancelled and PL banned from motorways.

Wow - stay safe. Sunny now here - but I suppose that snow in making its way to us now. We are equipped for it here, so no problem.

Not sure it is in the East of France. Coming down over west of England, Channel Islands, Normandy and Brittany.
Twice warm from the logs, hauled up about twenty and now in front of fire!

Sun just setting here in Jura mountains on Swiss/French border - not a snowflake in sight