Any signs of spring?

[Blaze]

Whilst we have a very mild climate here, the cold winds have slowed the development of some plants like lilac and forsythia. However, daffs, crocuses and camellias are a-plenty, as are hyacinths and daisies. The irises multiply like mad and their blue-green leaves give nice colour before the flowers eventually appear. The mimosas around here are just going past their best ....

[Doug]

Today saw our first black redstart of spring.
Two weeks earlier than last year.
Still have a lot of bramblings about but not the flocks of a couple of weeks ago.

[L Austin France]

Don't want any yet!
The last two years have been a disaster for plums & peaches which flower earlier than other fruit trees & have been got by 'late' frosts.

[Char]

Plums are in flower in my garden, not sure about the peaches and cherries yet - I'll have a look when it stops raining.

[ExMontpelliérain]

Sat in the garden for the first time in a while (16 C & sunny). Quite a few butterflies, Brimstone, Comma & Red Admiral, plus the all-weather orgy in our frog pond was particularly frenetic.

[Quiksilver]

Our poor, frustrated froggies have yet to get going They had a few half-hearted attempts last week, but the -2°C put paid to that! It's due to warm up at night from now on, so cue the chorus

[basquesteve]

Holly blues, Orangetips, Speckled Woods, Brimstones, Tortoiseshells, Peacocks and Red Admirals all flying Toads Frogs and Lizards all moving for spring

[RobertArthur]

[elsie]

The first dandelions have started to appear here (in sheltered places)

dandelion.jpg

[Sparkle]

@elsie what a beautiful colour and I'm not a fan of yellow! You have reminded me of some years ago when talking to a French neighbour about his dandelions I thought I was very clever in remembering to call them dent de lion - well what a waste of time time that was as he had no idea. I was given a lingering vacant look then "mauvaise herbs" he said So I then tried it on another French neighbour who also didn't know they were called dent de lion - "mauvaise herbes" he said and who then went around the corner to his son's house, brought him back with him and asked me to repeat the name - vacant look yet again. They thought I was making it up so I had to nip home and return with my massive dictionary to prove it - at that point a bottle of red wine came out and we all sat down to a glass to celebrate! Well I was exhausted by then & thought to myself that'll teach you to be Miss Clever Cloggs