Spring will be here before we know it!

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Little daffodils and crocus out in the garden

I was in the garden over the weekend as we had lovely blue skies and it stayed dry. I have put together a veg trug and now I have to fill it with soil then plant up. I thought I'd start from seed! No, I am not an accomplished gardener and tried a little 'grow your own' last year with little success. So I have invested in the trug and cleared a space in my garden to plant veg when I run out of room in the trug (ever hopeful!). I have some planting bags that I used for tomatoes last year that have been cleaned ready for this year. So here goes! All tips appreciated, especially if anyone has used a veg trug!

No snowdrops in our garden, but I have seen some in our neighbourhood. We do have some crocuses pushing up leaves, so have some waiting to do.

I did bring in some forsythia branches to force. I haven't done it before, and keeping fingers crossed to get some flowers. Somehow I think the flowers are on second year wood, and I may just get some leaves instead. We'll see...

Snowdrops. Irises,primulas,daffodils,hellibores and red ,pink and white camelia. We'll be cutting the grass soon?

My iris started yesterday too! The birds are starting to sing too ?

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The little Irises have been out for a couple of weeks

Snowdrops and hellebores out in the garden and potted hyacinths indoors

I was happy to see groups of snowdrops in flower while walking in the large park where I walk daily. While the grass was very muddy due to so much rain the snowdrops had found their way through. So mild today.

We have two Camellias, both youngish, that flowered beautifully last year. This year I can't see any buds on them .

On the other hand there is a group of snowdrops in the front garden that I have never seen before. We planted snowdrops about twenty years ago but never saw more than one or two and thought the squirrels had eaten them. It seems some survived and have decided to flower.

I’m jealous, I’d love a camellia! They are such a burst of colour at the time of year.

My first colour of the year is my pink camelia looking lovely, and lots of bulbs starting to sprout.

Lovely and daffodils are my favourite flowers ?

I was feeling down today.There have been showers on and off and everything seemed grey.I forced myself to sit outside to have a cup of tea and being in the fresh air,seeing birds flying around did help to lift my spirits.I rearranged some of my pot plants whilst I was out which made Spring seem that little bit nearer.

Daffodils are a way off flowering outdoors here, but these are British and only 95 pence for this bunch from Aldi. So cheery.

Look after that toe Bertha.
Our snowdrops have been out since December, still doing well but a few dying back now. Crocus which we never planted decorate the lawn and the daffodils have buds and not far off flowering. We are in the the south east. I will be very happy when lighter nights and spring arrives.

I carried on with the good work this afternoon and dropped the scissors point down into my toe - blood all over the freshly washed kitchen floor. Not my day I think I'll sit down now and get a gardening book out.

We had snowdrops struggling through last week, although still just buds. Today we'd be lucky to see the edge of the bed where they are as we have inches of snow and it's still falling. Hey ho - one day, maybe!

Oh dear BigBertha1 not the best start to the day, I hope you have another cafetière so you can still enjoy a coffee this morning. It’s a wet morning here, but I hope this little sign I just took outside my front door cheers you up a bit.

My fence man is due today BigBertha. I hope I’m luckier than you and he turns up. ?

I had to get up early to move the car off the driveway and a couple of roads over to park it. I was surprised and delighted at how light it was and how fresh the air felt on my little walk back. Spring is on its way!

Nice thread Casdon and we certainly need cheering up. Our landscaper was due today but has let us down so I was feeling a bit blue then I smashed the cafetier and cut my hand so a good idea to think about spring and gardens. I loved seeing Nigel - he was just like my beloved Toby sadly long gone too.

One crocus and a few snowdrops out.
Several tête-à-tête daffodils well on the way - buds hanging their heads.
The other day I saw 3 big daffodils properly out in someone’s front garden.

From ‘Spring Nature Notes’

The sun lies mild and still on the yard stones.

The clue is a solitary daffodil – the first.

And the whole air struggling in soft excitements
Like a woman hurrying into her silks.
Birds everywhere zipping and unzipping
Changing their minds, in soft excitements,
Warming their voyage and trying their voices.

The trees still spindle bare.

Beyond them, from the warmed blue hills
An exhilaration swirls upward, like a huge fish.
As under the waterfall, in the bustling pool.

Over the whole land
Spring thunders down in brilliant silence.

Ted Hughes

It is fun trying to identify 'The First Spring Day' of the new year. The reason I like January is January is the beginning and for me January means looking ahead. February even more so.

I did some trimming and tidying yesterday, the sun was out and it was warm here in Devon. Cleaned the feeders for new seed delivery today. A real feeling of spring and better days to come?

Thank you for this thread Casdon. I am a GW fan and enjoyed watching last night, it was an uplifting reminder of what to look forward to in spring. We have a Golden Retriever because of Nigel, I follow Monty Don on Instagram, he is a very good photographer and posts most days with pictures of the garden and his dogs