A glimmer of early spring! Colour in the garden

Shoots all over my garden, wood pigeons hanging around in pairs and a blue tit looking in one of my bird boxes yesterday. It's very spring-like at the moment, quite warm today.

I'm in Shirley, Surrey. My Viburnum is blooming too, but not prolifically. My Witch hazels are just bursting into flower and winter honeysuckle's been flowering its socks off for the last month. Lots of green bulb shoots - I'm keeping anxious watch for them as neighbourhood cats keep crapping on them and scratching them up

I LOVE winter flowering plants- trying to plant more of them. Forgot the mahonias, which have done well but mine seem to be finishing now! I will go down to my little woodland garden tomorrow and see what else is happening

I need to plant a new witch hazel because a man I employed to dig my garden managed to destroy it. Grrrrr

I've just covered the clematis with fleece, having only taken it off 2 days ago. I thought it was a goner when we had lots of snow and freezing temps about 3 winters ago, but it rallied in response to lots of tlc and a good prune. We're in the north west and the warm summer and autumn have fooled lots of things that usually appear in February to pop their heads above the soil.

Any tips on protecting clematis?

Should have thought that as long as your protect the roots - you don't need to protect the top unless it is a winter clematis in which case they are tender and will need the fleece and a few crossed fingers.

Oh No! I meant camellia, sorry whitewave, this is what happens when I take a phone call from my lovely daughter and press send before reading my post.

Can I ask again - camellia protection? I put a large sheet of plastic over the roots during the last spell of frost. Does that sound effective?

What you shouldn't do is plant it so that the early morning sun gets to the buds That way it defrosts too quickly and ruins the flowers. So I would plant it in a west facing direction and if necessary fleece if it gets too cold

It's in the back garden, which gets the sun from mid day so that's reassuring. Thanks whitewave - fleece on as it's predicted frost tonight and storms tomorrow. Still at least it's getting lighter in the afternoon

It isn't here - where are you then? I am on the South Coast and it appears to be getting darker than lighter!!

New garden, new plants. I want some trailing plants in this one, any ideas?

Bulbs coming up in tubs from old house, could be snowdrops or crocus? We're in the North West too.

North West whitewave, where I suspect we have generally darker days than on the south coast (I know we do, having lived in both areas). Our theme tune near Manchester is 'always look on the bright side of life' - I'm increasingly convinced it's because we have to!

I've still got geraniums in flower. They don't seem to realise it's winter.

Iam it depends on the variety, some are more tender than others. I have a few camellias and they need nothing at all, but then stupidly bought an autumn-flowering one because I had always wanted one. As I live in an utter frost-pocket and they are more tender, it was very stupid of me but I SO coveted them when I saw them... So it is still in a pot under the eaves of the house until is gets bigger. If you are worried, an old net curtain or some horticultural fleece pegged over it is fine.

I don't want colour in the garden yet. I want the hibernating time to go on for as long as it should do.

ruby when you say trailing plants where do you intend to put them?

Yes, meant to ask. Trailing as in hanging, or climbing, or ground-covering?

I have crocus in flower. They are the species variety (pale purple) not the blousy orange or purple ones. They are super as they naturalise easily and the garden will be covered before too long. I did have an aconite out too until Purdy Puss thought it looked exciting. The hellebores and primulas are also doing well. No snowdrops yet and daffs just about pushing through.

Thanks janerowena, mine is a spring flowering camellia, it's gorgeous when healthy which is was last spring and summer. I suspect the odd warm weather has led it to bud early. Fleece at the ready, though it's muggy and raining hard currently

Here in East London, I have roses in flower. I normally prune in autumn but was not able to last year. this is a nice reward. Hope it won't affect this years flowers.

My wallflowers - grown from seed last July - are coming into flower just at the tops !! Little flash of colour is most welcome ! ( Staffordshire )

I have mini-cyclamen in flower all over the rockery - but they have been blooming for months non-stop.

Winter pansies are still looking good also primroses and a couple of geraniums with flowers still. Bulbs have sprouted but no buds yet. We do have snowdrops but haven't inspected them recently.

We're in S.E.

My Cornus Mas is just bursting into bloom with its yellow pom-poms. It's a welcome patch of colour in a dark corner of the garden. The snowdrops are quite rampant now!

With over 6' of snow in the garden- not many signs of Spring right now ;)

Although on my walk this afteroon, I saw some catkins opening up on a large willow tree- that will have to do for a while!