Signs of spring

[aquilegia]

What have you noticed that tells you spring is on the way?

So far I've seen...
* a few crocuses in flower (over the past month or so)
* snowdrops are out (and my first year with any!)
* Daffs in bud
* two bumblebees (or was it the same one twice?)
* a seven-spot ladybird
* my rhubarb is resprouting, even though I haven't covered it
* it's light when I get up in the morning, even on the days when I have to get in early
* the birds were serenading me at 5am this morning (not because of security lights!)
* there was still light on the western horizon when I got home at 6pm yesterday
* I'm dying to get sieving my homemade compost

So with spring almost sprunging and winter blues over for another year, I'm feeling much happier hence the delurk...

(she says with another cold spell around the corner - but they don't affect me this time of the year!)

So what have I missed?

[aquilegia]

[CotswoldLass]

Hi Aqui!

I'm looking forward to Spring so much. Really does feel as if it's in the air. May be cold this week, but the light is SO welcome!

All my late-planted Narcissus bulbs are coming through
Seen lots of snowdrops
Can't hear the dawn chorus through the double glazing - too cold for open windows yet!



CLx

[Mimi]

All of the above Aqui...............and.........I feel much better and have lots more energy.  I suffer from S.A.D (although much milder now that it used to be) and I get such a boost by longer days starting.  Cleaned the house right through yesterday finished by 3pm (usually takes me about 3 days faffing around in the depths of winter darkness)   ;D Love this time of the year  ;D

[Dan 2]

BLOOMING BULBS!

[Mrs Ava]

Lambs!   ;D  And the lovely bulbs everywhere - snowdrops and crocus in flower in my own garden and all the daffs are up with fat buds. 

Another sign spring has sprung for us, I have planned some major decorating to start next week - yippee!

And in 10 days time, yet another niece or nephew is due!

Glad to see you unlurked Aqui!

[RosieA]

I just seen my crocuses come up, there are mauve ones and light lilac ones and so I know spring is finally coming. hooray!

[Doris_Pinks]

The Birds in our gardening are busily gathering bits for their nests, and the sparrows have moved into my neighbours hole in her facias!

[Hyacinth]

The wrens are back and active under the eaves and under the apple tree there's a big patch of chrome-yellow crocuses (hah! the squirrels missed them ;D)

[busy_lizzie]

There are still patches of snow in places that don't catch the sun and the ponds are still frozen a bit, but even here there are signs.  All the snow drops are up, and green shoots are appearing everywhere in the garden.  Our birds seem a lot more active too, particularly the blackbirds.  The lighter nights are really noticeable now and like Mimi, really give me that little bit more energy.  Had to smile when I read EJ's post because I have started a major spring clean of our kitchen - we are just like the little birds, tweaking up our nests.  ;D  Just been up to the lottie and  the ground is a bit sticky but  I'm absolutely dying to make a start there  too. There is definitely something in the air.  :D busy_lizzie

[Curryandchips]

A discernable increase in temperature today, here in the Midlands, it is only cool instead of cold. Another frost forecast though. No point in fretting over the digging, or soil preparation.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It does seem slightly milder, in the sun at any rate. Lots of crocuses out; not my favourite plant, though I do like species crocuses. Must grow more of them. There was a robin singing lustily down the other end of the site. and I've been hearing woodpeckers drumming for a while.

[aquilegia]

I'm glad you're all noticing spring stuff too!

I have more:
* squirrels "chatting" each other up
* more crocuses and snowdrops flowering (I didn't know I had so many!)
* daffs getting bigger and in bud in my garden and just down the road - some in flower (right by the side of building and south-facing so very warm)
* rode with my coat off yesterday (just wearing a thick fleece, two t-shirts and a rugby shirt!)
* we're decorating the hall/stairs/landing

I'm still waiting to get properly started on the garden - I planted a few lily bulbs and a bare-root agapanthus on saturday (and some tulip bulbs I found in the shed that had sprouted. oh well - let's see what they do!) and after that my fingers were frozen (and I was wearing gloves). I wanted to pot up some things in the garden and replant some of my pots with summer bulbs, but all the soil and pots were frozen solid and this was after lunch.

Soon I be able to get a fork in the soil. I don't think the compost was frozen, but my hands were certainly too cold to sieve that!

I've been checking the long range forecast daily, but it seems like winter's going to be with us (even in London) for a while yet...

[Larkspur]

It is slightly warmer and very wet here today in Shrpshire and yesterday there was lots of birdsong. However the two reliable indicators of springs arrival I have used for years are coltsfoot and celandine flowering. If you want some indication of how late this spring is, the earliest record I have of celandine in flower is February 18 and the latest previously March 4. 
There is currently no sign of either flowering, and I am looking very hard ;)

[froglets]

The birds were noisier than the central heating knocking this morning and the wich hazel is starting to fade.

[derbex]

The d*mn grass is starting to grow >:(

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's rained steadily all day. Not a trace of snow!

[Mimi]

Rain all day here.  Still lots of snow on the mountains and a bit further north at Bangor.  Would rather have the snow than all this rain. ...........Where's me brolly?

[Curryandchips]

Let's  be honest though, this rain is sorely needed !

[aquilegia]

I was actually happy it rained yesterday - made it warmer so I spent 45 mins (the longest time so far this year) working in the garden.

Planted some (oh dear) crocuses I found in the shed that were rooted and sprouted. Oops. Then turned my compost heap. Much to my dismay it was only half rotted and very dry - lack of rain over the winter. So I left the lids off all day and it was nice and soggy by sunset.

Oh yes - lots more perennials are sprouting. Including my favourite aquilegia variety.

And another sign of spring - the horses are really lively! Made for an interesting ride yesterday - especially when people where walking past with golf umberellas!  :o

[busy_lizzie]

The frogs are back in our ponds, so that is a good sign that spring is here.  The rain has cleared all of the snow away now, so the ground is wet,  though it is much warmer and you can see all the shoots coming up.  :) busy_lizzie