Spring is coming!

I'd love to join in but I doubt my area has any relevancy to a British naturescalender graph.

Still, might add in my own observations as a comparison.

Yes sea level although lots further north bags it will be earlier. Have to say I got enough of that easterly wind we had last march for week after week though. Westerly winds when you are near the sea somehow feel much more enjoyable.

I doubt that my area would have much relevance either but I will do it as well.

I'm not sure which plant to use though. The Bermuda Butttercups (Oxalis, "an invasive noxious weed") have come out since Christmas and when it's not raining they look beautiful all over the fields.

A wild Freesia flowered on 8th of Feb. last year.

Also I sad to DH in early February that it must be spring as there were teenagers canoodling on the street corners.

Quick digression - sorry! Jess have you ever read "The Owl Service" by Alan Garner? It was a popular book for older, maybe late KS3 students about 20 years ago, and uses stuff from the .Mabinogion. Quite a difficult one to teach, but I liked it. Used it in my MA exams..how time flies.

Just noticed that even the "dead" basil in my herb pots is trying to grow!

Ariadne my children loved this book [The Owl Service] when it was a serial on tv donkey's years ago [25 years ago?]

Lovely walk today but not a sign of spring. Dunes and dune slacks thoroughly wintering. Views of the sea-covered marsh, migratory waterfowl, rain over the Llyn and snowy mountain tops. Close up there were ponies and lichen to admire. Glad we took the opportunity to get out during a lull in the wild weather.

yes I did read The Owl Service. Wrote my own version of the story too. Think Bloddauwedd much maligned.

The point of the saying, "kissing' s in fashion when the gorse is in flower" is that kissing is always in fashion since gorse always has some flowers on it. Mostly.

We have we got the worst of the winter in front of us.

That last post was from your own resident little ray of sunshine.

Very strange grammar being spoken there too.

Yet Spring will always come, Jingle

Anticipation.....

Think we can bank on that Ffinnochio, I am glad to say ...

Nonu

ffinn, it might be worth contacting naturescal and asking to join in where you are now, with a view to having British observations in due course. You never know, worth a try.

Or you could just jot down dates in a notebook for comparison. I'd be interested in comparing your dates with mine

B I now know what to do with the little handbag diary I was given. I rarely use handbags, but kept the sweet diary thinking it'll find a place in my life somehow. Now it has. Will keep notes for comparison.

The only thing that is is in bloom now, and has been for a few weeks, is winter heliotrope. Possibly our only truly winter flowering species (if you exclude catkins). Delicate little pink/lilac pompoms with an incredible vanilla-violets scent. "common locally" as they say. Lots of images online.

My Mahonia is in full bloom with wonderful yellow flowers. As a plant it is viciously prickly but the flash of winter yellow is good and it provides a good source of berries for the birds early in the year.

Nellie , mine too , looks glorious !

Daft apricot has now produced 2 blossoms and a bluetit was peering into the nesting box.

Galen Hope the bluetit is set to stay!

Witch Hazel is in full glorious bloom in parks and gardens. Saw a lovely one at the end of my walk today. A cloud of yellow.

Fabulous shrub at this time of year, isn't it.

I went to tesco's and the cut daffs are in, so it must be spring.
I fell for some little pots of tete-a-tete and thyme and lavender which I shall harden off and put outside, as I can't find any pansies, which were what I intended to have at the front, I usually have a bunch of pots there but it's looking a bit bare....

First snowdrop today, in the rain.