France in Focus

A friend in London wrote
So glad dreary January is finished. Please tell me of any signs of spring you have seen there. A friend in Cornwall says the jonquils are in their full glory there already.

I could only offer these snowdrops, which appeared earlier this week They were a week later than last year when they appeared out of the snow (which we've hardly had here, so possibly the soil is colder?)

I don't have any photos but our snowdrops are out and the muscaris or mascaras as I call them (that's how I remember their name ) are just peeping up.

Daffies starting to emerge.

3 daffodils in flower (the rest are still shooting leaves, as are the grape hyacinth and daylilies). Magnolia stellata flower buds are ready to burst when it gets a tad warmer. New grass shoots appeared in the paddock last week when it crept up to 14C, but the renewed cold has put the brakes on that. Hazel catkins are ripening to a lovely yellow.

Lilac tree has lots of new shoots, magnolia likewise.

No bulbs yet, the crocus are usually first. We don't have any snowdrops, don't know why because I like them.

The passionate has kept it's leaves, not sure if that is usual.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As if on cue, I have just seen the first group of cranes heading NE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing here except that the birds are more vocal.

Veem wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:54 pm WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As if on cue, I have just seen the first group of cranes heading NE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really? That's excellent news.

I couldn't believe it to begin with so I called Biggles out. Definitely grues and definitely heading NE.

Yes the grue travelled North over here this afternoon - I heard them, before I saw them.