Any signs of spring?

[Sparkle]

Yes, the clematis, lilacs, wisteria and mexican orange flowers are all in abundance making the garden smell delightful - but not heard a cuckoo yet.

[Veem]

All of the above, plus hawthorn (red and white), honeywort, lily of the valley, stitchwort, red campion, bluebell, cowslip, greater celandine, asphodel, rose Twister Select. Not forgetting what must be a record-breaking number of dandelions. We've had what resembles a snowstorm of dandelion seeds for days. We've also heard, in addition to all the usual suspects (or rather Merlin heard on our behalf) a black woodpecker.

[Polly]

Quite a few of the above, but those I’m most pleased to see are the snake's head fritillaries, which pop up in various places each year, so always a surprise, and the very large numbers of violets this year - difficult to avoid walking on them on the lawn nearest the house. They are in the gravel at the front of the house too, but never any at all on the far lawn, much damper due to underground streams and tougher grass I suppose.

We’ve also had a lot of dandelions anywhere we’ve been recently. I quite like them in the wild but really don’t want them in my garden; any that have grown from drifting dandelion clocks I remove, though on the verge at the front of the house they try to hide, growing very low.

[exile]

Delighted to find the early purple orchid that appeared in the lawn - well more accurately, irregularly mown meadow - last year is back.

I made a particular effort to not mow just there last year and have marked the spot to ensure that it does not get mown this.
The daffodils are just going over and the tulips are in full flower. Our small patch of snakes head fritillary continue, although the conditions are ideal for them. Wood anenome in blue and white are both in flower and our ail des ours (wild garlic) is about to flower.
Unfortunately our spreading Rosemary seems to be dying with many branches looking dead. I am not sure if it can be saved but I will leave it a while. Maybe I can get a cutting from the bits that are still alive.

[Headers]

2 slightly strange signs.

A massive swarm of bees flew past me and down the garden into the woods yesterday

A forgeron got very agitated as I was getting into my car yesterday. Turns out it was starting to build a nest in the air cooler intake of OH’s Patrol. They did it last year in the radiator but we didnt realise till it was too late. We had to hoover all the bits out and then I covered it with an old sheet.