Signs of Spring in the Garden

Winter-flowering Viola




I went a walk around the garden this morning and, despite the freezing cold weather and occasional snow flurry, there were still plenty of signs that Spring is just around the corner!

Mahonia is starting to flower - a good nectar source for any newly emerged bumble bees (when it gets warmer!)



The hazels have a few lamb's tail catkins



and the female pink "sea-anemone" type flowers are appearing.



As I heavily cropped the above photo I suddenly remembered the macro lens I had for Christmas! Never mind when it gets warmer I'll try and take some garden photos with it.

Bluebell leaves are pushing through in the wooded area at the top of the garden



and I found some tiny toadstools in the "wildflower meadow".



There are lots of buds on the camelias



Native primroses (Primula vulgaris) had "wilted" in the frost.



The colder weather has brought a few more bird species into the garden - a male sparrowhawk perched in the silver birch behind the pond for 40 minutes late afternoon a few days ago and today a pair of stock doves were feeding. The wren is still roosting in the hanging basket - constant entry has worn a hole in the moss and he or she seems to be spending the cold nights between moss and the plastic liner. A pair of blue tits are still investigating one of the nest boxes.