Signs of Spring

[Highland Damsel]

The snowdrops are only just out in flower up here.

A couple of planted Iris's are showing their colours and a lovely winter cherry has been flowering for a couple of weeks, don't know if that counts though (i planted it two years ago and it's so delicate and pretty and makes me smile)

[tufftie]

Maybe it's just the sunny day with a very spring like feel to it - birds singing more than they have been and warm..got windows wide open... Roses and elders leaves seem to be trying to peek through and hazel leaf buds are swelling..not to mention quite a few catkins - think it's just that everything seems to be waking up!

[Hoppingmad]

Originally Posted by PMG

Many years ago I remember a family day out on the 1st of Jan to Smardale Gill to find a clump of primrose in full flower! They were very sorry looking - but they appeared to be genuine wild primrose, growing on the banking in quite a protected spot, but far from housing and gardens.

Pauline

I glad primroses have been seen early in years past. I was beginning to wonder what had happened this year with them being so advanced here in Essex. On some of my many visits to Exmoor in recent years I have seen thousands of primroses growing in April so was getting a bit worried about the early show here!

[Pat]

Just come back from a walk where I saw some pussy willow in full bloom, surely this is a bit early

[Geoff F]

Nice sunny day today so I slipped off for a walk along the cliffs near Bolt Head, S. Devon (one of the perks of being self employed). Saw and photographed a Red Admiral; when I returned home some bumble bees were feeding on the Mahonia.

[Seajay]

Well I spent a lovely day gardening! Mowed the lawns did a little pruning and cut some of the herbaceous perennials back (like to leave them as long as poss for the birds). There were crocuses,snowdrops, primroses, pansies, wallflowers and even two plants of pinks in flower!. The Viburnum 'Dawn' is flowering beautifully.
One of the Camelias is just showing some colour in the bud.

Is it Spring? You bet your life it isn't. It is February and there is a long way to go yet. Unfortunately this is when a lot of damge can be done as people, plants and animals are fooled by the mild weather then hit hard by a prolonged cold snap. This is when the beekeeper can loose his colonies of bees for example.

So enjoy the early blooms, they do lift the spirits but be wary!

Colin

[Susie]

Well it may not be spring but it certainly felt like it today. The birds were in full voice, a vibernum in flower was being vistited by bees (not just the odd one but more than a dozen at the same time) and I counted three hoverflies as well.

The hazel has catkins and the buds on my sallow are just bursting to show the fluffy silver insides too. The cherry plum and blackthorn are starting to flower.

[Mr Mag00]

mowed the lawn, omg

[Seajay]

Originally Posted by Mr Mag00

mowed the lawn, omg

Yes, mowed the lawn. Is there a problem?

[Heart-shaped World]

Not being that much of a 'plant man' I've tended to associate maybe Chiffchaff but certainly Orange Tip butterflies and Bee-flies with the arrival of spring myself. Have I erred?

[ChrisJB]

On a local stroll this afternoon, the first Meadow Pipit had returned to the local hills. I also saw a Collared Dove preforming its display flight today.

Regards, Chris

[snowdrop]

Watched a couple of spiders busy spinning webs this afternoon their size told me this was their very first webs. The webs they were spinning were of slightly different patterns. As mum wasn't there to show them how, I presumed they hatched with forebear memory.

[epops]

we saw a couple of Peacock Butterflys this morning and one lonley bumble bee

[hobble]

Elder trees, and honeysuckle shooting. Aquilegia putting out new leaves, snowdrops, primroses, daffs and crocus in full flower. Daisies and dandelions flowering.
Nettles growing their extra strong stinging leaves, three cornered garlic and heliotrope in full flower. Trees budding. Grass needs cutting. It must be spring.

[Seajay]

Originally Posted by Heart-shaped World

Not being that much of a 'plant man' I've tended to associate maybe Chiffchaff but certainly Orange Tip butterflies and Bee-flies with the arrival of spring myself. Have I erred?

These animals are behaving as though it is what we call Spring, but purely as a reaction to warmth and longer days. Plants also.
Robins are on record as nesting in December and January but they didn't raise their young because they responded to a spell of unseasonal warm weather and got it wrong.
As the weather returns to normal so does the pattern of nature we all know, unfortunately many creatures (some plants too) die as a result.
I don't know but I suppose it's part of natural selection.
However thre are some good indicators when animals arrive en masse seasonally purely because the overall weather pattern is bahaving as normal (the weather where the animals came from provided the normal stimulus to migrate).

Anyway that's my belief and I'm sticking to it

[cybershot]

Kuehneromyces mutabilis - Velvet Toughshank (Hawley, Hants - 8 Feb 207)

This confused fungus doesn't know whether it's coming or going because it normally 'fruits' between spring and early winter: Is it late or early? The buds on the shooting branch may give a clue!

David

[therealbobbo]

Yesterday,in the space of a minute,I saw 1 bumble bee,2 ordinary bees,and a hover fly,all on the same hyacinth!bobbo

[therealbobbo]

This morning,I saw a rhodedendrum,with 2 flowers out,bobbo

[Hoppingmad]

Well - feeling guilty now since I started this early Spring chat. Winter returned to Essex this morning with the first decent frost since December. Quite relieved not to say pleased as I went out early with my camera and got some nice wintery shots - although the sky was deep blue.

[Pat]

Went for a walk about 4-30pm and had to fight my way through clouds of midges!

[Stomperone]

Watch out ... I think we might be being lulled into a false sense of security .. Today I have been out on Dartmoor I've caught the sun .. I saw butterflies, snowdrops,daffodils,crocuses and down the road we have a cherry tree in blossom..

[tufftie]

Just got back from cornwall and it was beautiful and very warm and springlike. Three cornered leeks, daffs, primroses and even a wasp. Hard to explain but it felt more like March/April than February.

[therealbobbo]

Mallard Ducklings,on a pond,in Farnham park,and a wasp in our bathroom!

[Mr Mag00]

Just found some frogspawn at work today and found some at a school yesterday. However some of the spawn here is white coloured jelly, does that mean it is not fertilised or has it been hit by the frost!!!?

[Gill Catton]

Song thrush, greenfinch, chaffinch all heard in territorial song,
frogspawn in Southampton last friday
Daffs in flower in my front garden on Saturday
Today - blackthorn flowering !!!!