At long last, the weather seems to be warming up (it was a windless 22 C (72F) degrees yesterday!) and there are a few signs that spring is approaching. I only hope that we do not have another cold spell. The sun's warmth has been very welcome and we have both enjoyed the heat on our backs. We have seen the occasional early butterfly and bee, and the lizards have reappeared in the last couple of days; it is good to see them basking in the sun.
The usual avian suspects like black caps, great tits, chaffinches and goldfinches have stayed in the garden over winter, enticed by the food we put out. The blue tits are still coming to the window sill for food, their favourite being sunflower seeds!
There are several hyacinths out, and to my delight, I now see 3 daffodils. Most of the bulbs had rotted after the snow melted in February!
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A lone snowdrop hidden in the shade
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The cactus seem to have survived the big freeze and they are enjoying the sunshine
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The bluebells are looking healthy and I hope they will soon form a mass of blue flowers
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The wild violets are happy in their patches; the top picture shows that the flies are also again in evidence!
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The hydrangea, having been pruned back, is starting to shoot all over
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One of my followers told me the name of this plant some time ago, but I am afraid I have forgotten!! Can anyone out there come to my rescue?
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Spring sure looks on its way to you! Slowly slowly here -- but there are little signs.
ReplyDeleteHello Diane:
ReplyDeleteIt is all so exciting when the temperature rises and the garden springs to life. We hope too that this will not be another false start as the cold snaps are so damaging. But, let us hope that spring is here to stay this time.
The plant you picture is Bergenia Cordifolia, an absolute stalwart of the garden from our point of view and its vibrant blooms really do make for a wonderful show!
The Broad it is slow here as well. We have another good day tomorrow then it cools down again with rain which we really need. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteJane and Lance I have just looked at the weather report and it seems that tomorrow the weather will be good, then on Saturday we can expect storms! Rain for another couple of days, and then only around 10C for the next week. It does not though appear to be a frost for the immediate future. I have known frosts in May so we need to watch the tender new vegetables.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the identification, as soon as I saw the name I remembered but the memory is defiantly slowing down! Keep well Diane
Temperature at 24 yesterday, and gosh but it was hot! Seems hard to believe that only three weeks ago we were down in the minuses, but thank goodness for the heat. However, not wanting to tempt fate, I am still keeping my thermal vest on for a while yet.
ReplyDeleteWe do not have any snowdrops here, but apart from that your description is very similar to how things are around here now. Isn't it glorious, hope Spring warmth is here to stay, not sure, but hope so. We do need rain, but none forecast. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane .. our plants are furiously sprouting - I rent and the garden is pretty scarce .. I look forward to your type of garden again one day.
ReplyDeleteEverything is sprouting - though we've had warm days with thick mists at night - and pretty cold. Still spring is on its way .. and I love your photos ...
Cheers for now - Hilary
hi diane, those lizards are kind of big compared to what i see at my house. It really lights up the mood seeing thise flowers blooming, enjoy the spring!
ReplyDeleteOh Lovely, here we have winter creeping up on us slowly!
ReplyDelete+22 is spring already!:)
ReplyDeleteVera the forecast says storms here on Saturday and rain for the next couple of days after. Temperatures drop a bit the remainder of the week. My thermal vest will also still be close at hand:) Diane
ReplyDeleteLinda we have rain forecast here over the weekend, also storms!! We need the rain so it will be welcome, not so sure about the storm! Diane
ReplyDeleteHilary I can understand not wanting to spend a lot of money on a rented garden, just a case of keeping it tidy.
ReplyDeleteI love just watching all the buds coming out, I hope soon we will have blossom. Keep well Diane
Lena you are so right the mood is much lighter when the sun shines :) Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteGood morning Diane, I'm so glad that spring is coming to Europe again, after all that heavy snow storms. Isn't it wonderful to find the little treasures when the sun comes out? Those lizards seem having fun...
ReplyDeleteLeisl you do not really have a winter where you are, I would be very happy with your temperatures all year round. Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteOla the car said 26C today I cannot believe it. It is going to change again though at the weekend!! Diane
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your spring flowers, and feeling that sun is so healthy.
ReplyDeleteMost probably the lizards are expecting the spring too. The flowers are amazing..
ReplyDeleteI wish I could put bird seed out, but the birds drive my dog bonkers.
ReplyDeleteSigns of spring are poking up around here as well. Unfortunately, your garden seems to be more tidy than mine :-). Your photos are wonderful. Have a great day, Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteYour Spring, our Autumn at the moment are the same temps. While you're experiencing growth, leaves fall from our trees in Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteHere in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, it is still on the cool side, but for us it is warm. It is +10C today. The long term forecast is very good. It will slowly warm up over the next month or so.
ReplyDeleteMarco Pasho I so love this warm weather I am certainly someone who hates winter. After living in Zimbabwe for so long I find it hard to appreciate just how cold winter in in Europe! Yep, those lizards are certainly thinking that spring is in the air.... Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteGaelyn I cannot tell you how happy I am that the sun is back with a bit of warmth in it. I just hate being cold! Diane
ReplyDeleteogyep yummy mellow, I am sure you are right the lizards have that spring feeling as well, also the butterflies which I have not managed to photograph so far, they are very fast
ReplyDeleteWe just need a bit of rain as all is very dry, it is forecast for Saturday so I hope.... Diane
meridith thanks for your visit and comment. It is a pity you can't feed the birds in winter. This year was particularly cold and I think they would have struggled to find food on their own. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteMary it really is not that tidy, I did take some photos of the weeds but though better of it LOL. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteLeon and Sue it will not be long though before you are in Spring here. I am sure you are excited about the trip. We are looking forward to the chance of meeting you. Diane
ReplyDeleteHorst it looks like we will be back around 10C next week, just so long as we don't get frosts I do not mind! We are due rain over the weekend which I am happy about as the garden needs some water. Diane
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the flowers in your garden are so beautiful. Lucky you! So happy the spring is almost here!
ReplyDeleteRed
We are behind you in blooming, but maybe next week will start to bring flowers! It was 68 here today, and Mark took his school books outside so he could enjoy working more!
ReplyDeleteI just love this time of year seeing everyone's gardens come to life and it sure has come to your area. OOoohh I love that cactus - the colors are stunning. The hyancynth looks so good and full. Love the color.
ReplyDelete)Oh wow, lucky you. I haven't seen any bloom in my garden yet. My cactus died unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get out and putter away in the garden. Unfortunately, we're having late winter storms, wet and windy for days, possible snow storms and flooding. Whatever is blooming will be destroyed by the winds.
ReplyDeleteOh well!
It was great seeing your spring blooms.
It's wonderful to see the spring after a long, cold winter. Sadly we are not yet there but soon I hope. We have more rain in the forecast and temperatures are still coolish at times. In fact, we had a bit more snow yesterday! It didn't stay on the ground where I live. Thankfully!
ReplyDeleteYour garden really is starting to come to life and looking good.
ReplyDeleteI have always known that last plant as 'London's Pride' but I could be wrong!! Thanks for sharing, you have insprired me to get out in the garden with the camera.Thank you. xx
Boye by Red, there are not too many but the little bit of colour makes such a difference. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteMarjie we seem to be behind the UK surprisingly enough as we are usually warmer. It looks like next week is dropping in temperature again though! Diane
ReplyDeleteBecca having a little colour in the garden makes such a difference :-) The picture does not show the hyacinth at its best, it is a very bright blue. Take care Diane
ReplyDeletechubskulit I am so happy to see the colour back in the garden, it has been very grey through February. We have in fact had a short winter but it was exceptionally bad when it arrived! Diane
ReplyDeleterosaria, storms are predicted here tomorrow so I hope they do not do any dammage. We need rain as it is very dry but I hope that the sun will soon be back again so I can spend more time in the garden. Diane
ReplyDeleteJoyful you are further North than we are so I guess your winter is a bit longer than ours. Sure you will soon have spring there as well. Keep well. Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos - real confirmation that spring has arrived. Even here in Derbyshire we have had some warm sunshine - in fact we ate lunch outdoors last Sunday - when we get a nice day we just have to make the most of it !!
ReplyDeleteThere's always the chance that winter will return briefly to have its last laugh but as each week goes by and the days lengthen it's unlikely to stick around for long now.
Karen thanks for your comment, I have just looked up London's pride and the leaf is slightly different, Saxifraga x urbium. Alternative names for it include St. Patrick's Cabbage, Whimsey, Prattling Parnell, and Look Up And Kiss Me.
ReplyDeleteBergenia Cordifolia is spot on for my plant when I look at the photos.
I am so happy to see colour back in the garden :-) Diane
Jean I cannot tell you how happy I am to feel a bit of warmth from the sun, I am sure that you know though.
ReplyDeleteStorms predicted tomorrow. and rain Monday and Tuesday. We need the rain but I just hope the sun come back afterwards. Take care Diane x
Here the snowdrops have finished otherwise your garden looks pretty much like ours at the moment, albeit with a high of 12C, here, today. It will be interesting to see how your gardens progresses over the next few months.
ReplyDeletecheshire wife, I seem to have had two batches of snowdrops, I thought that they had finished weeks ago when I saw this one out and a small bud behind it!! Have a great weekend. Diane
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful photos are proof that spring is well and truly here. For me the most beautiful season full of expectations, sun, heat and light. We also have the first day when the temperature got to twenty degrees. In your climate in France is milder and spring earlier. Thank you for your nice comment. I send many greetings! Peter.
ReplyDeleteOh, so nice and lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend, for being so nice to me with your words on my blog... always.;-) Hugs Stina
I just can't believe how beautiful everything is, already..Gosh, it looks wonderful..I know our daughter's gardens have some flowers coming up, they are more south of us..Course, I am not a good gardener, so I have nothing..
ReplyDeleteHope you both are much better..always thinking about you and wishing for the best of health..
Have a good weekend..xoCarolyn
I think the only possible good thing about a warming climate is the decreased chance of those awful cold snaps that wipe things out. My worst took out all my gorgeous casablanca lilies ... just when the stalks were at their most delicate when they just get out of the ground. I had no lilies that year and they never really recovered. Heartbreaking. Here's crossed fingers your garden grows without a hitch.
ReplyDeletenice cliks.but 1st just terrific..
ReplyDeleteMaha
what beautiful pics, perfect for Spring Diane (lol)
ReplyDeletepetrolin50 thanks for your visit and kind comment, yes we should have spring a bit earlier than you, but these days nobody ever seems to know :) Rain expected this evening and tomorrow which the garden really needs. Diane
ReplyDeleteLilla Kullan it is always a pleasure when you visit me. Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteCarolyn we are behind this year to normal but I am happy to see colour back in the garden again. I am lucky, generally I just stick things in the garden and they grow! Diane
ReplyDeletelostpastremembered our winter this year was the coldest since the early 50's and I think I have lost several plants. I am just keeping my fingers crossed. Very sad about your lilies the same thing happened to me one winter in S.Africa with a whole bed of spider lilies, I was heart broken. Diane
ReplyDeletemaha thanks for your visit and kind comment, Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteGloria, thanks for the comment, it is so good to see that spring is on its way at last :) Diane
ReplyDeleteYour rabbit recipe is close to the one I used to cook. After placing the pieces of rabbit in a heavy casserole I poured some cognac on it and then placed a match to light it and get rid of the alcohol, just to keep the flavor. Then I poured a little bit of flour on the pieces so the gravy would get thicker. I also added the cut up potatoes half hour before the rabbit was ready in the same pot. When using white wine instead of red I used tarragon and a bit of herbes de provence and more mushrooms and some tiny carrots instead of the potatoes. Your spring flowers are pretty – I love the hyacinths – my mother used to always buy me a pot of hyacinth for my birthday so I’ll need to get one in another week.
ReplyDeleteYep! spring is definitively here!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and colourful flowers!
you be happy and proud of the result!
Cheers, Diane!
It looks like an amazing, glorious time of the year, wonderful photos, as usual!
ReplyDeleteVagabonde I will give your rabbit recipe a try next time the neighbour catches one for me, thanks. I am quite surprised at what has popped up in the garden! Happy birthday for a week ahead. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteNoushka the summer can not come fast enough for me. The trouble is then I will be worrying about the next winter!! Take care Diane x
ReplyDeleteThe Café Sucré Farine, spring is always a surprise to me as I never know what may have survived in the garden from previous plantings! Diane
ReplyDeleteI love Spring and watching stuff bloom and the lizards sun bathing again. Its raining today and that's good as its been a very dry winter.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice when the weather turns warmer and 72 degrees sounds lovely. We haven't had warm weather like that yet.
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely colour in your garden. Enjoy your lovely weather.
It is nice to have some warmer weather. I love the photos of your flowers, they are so pretty.
ReplyDeletevery pretty big lizards, we have little black ones here with a blue stripe
ReplyDeleteStephen we are supposed to be having a storm today but so far only 1mm of rain, not enough, we need more. We do not need a storm though! It is so good to see the lizards out, and I see our hibernating hedgehog has shuffled off as well. Sure signs that it is getting warmer. Diane
ReplyDeleteEllie I am delighted that it is warming up. The ideal weather for me is sun all day and rain at night, perfect for the garden and we still enjoy the day :) Diane
ReplyDeleteWords Of Deliciousness thanks for the visit and the comment, the warm weather is definitely what we wait for each year, we both hate the cold!! Diane
ReplyDeleteRebecca we have these lizards which are the common lizard, but we also get the green lizard which is quite big and very bright green. I have not yet seen one out this year. Diane
ReplyDeleteOh my Diane, what a fabulous spring appearance. Just look at those flowers. I am trying to imagine the smell of it. Hmmmm.... Simply refreshing! I bet you're enjoying it so much. This is something that everyone looking forward to.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the joy.
Blessings,
Kristy
Kristy the hyacinth have a very strong perfume. When the bluebells come out the smell is quite overpowering but I love it. Take care Diane
ReplyDeleteMerci Diane pour ces belles images très printannières! Ma préférée: les lézards au soleil!
ReplyDeleteBonne semaine à vous!
I always love seeing your garden! Now I have to go inside and brush the dirt off and have some lemonade.
ReplyDeleteLe printemps est arrivé, j'espère! Bonne semaine à vous aussi. Diane
ReplyDeleteLyndsey, I hope you had your gloves on so you did not break any nails LOL. Mmmm that lemonade was good. Keep well Diane
ReplyDeleteOur snowdrops are coming to an end but the daffodils are at their best.
ReplyDeleteIsn't is fantastic when the garden springs to life?
Gaynor The thing that surprises me most is the hyacinths. I planted a couple of bulbs a few years ago and I have never been here since to see them flower :) There are now 6 flowers and each seem to have a second shoot coming up. Diane
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see all of the blooms. It's still dreary here... sigh.
ReplyDeleteBergenia Cordifolia, my dear friend Diane,i had told you.
ReplyDeleteI have in my garden, too.
Your spring photos are wonderful!!!
In Greece, we have rain and a little cold.
But the garden is full of Narcissus.
I wich you to be very good!
Many greetings and kisses
Pam don't worry we are back to dreary here as well. After a week of what was almost summer, we have grey skies and rain. We need the rain but we do not need the temperature drop! Diane
ReplyDeleteMagda I know you had told me Bergenia Cordifolia, but I could not find where I had put the name!!! Thanks again. Grey and dreary at the moment but the hyacinths cheers me up:) Keep well my friend hugs Diane
ReplyDeleteLovely Spring photos! Also great posts about the villages, and the architecture.. I haven't had time to read thoroughly yet, but will be back to do so! Apple cobbler also looks marvellous - I do enjoy your recipes!
ReplyDeleteKaren there are so many interesting blogs around nowadays it is difficult to keep up with them. We need a few more hours in the day LOL. Thanks for the visit and the comment. Diane
ReplyDeleteSo many nice flowers already! We had a very nice week but today is sleeting and cold.
ReplyDeleteSarah we have certainly cooled down this week but not to the degree you have obviously! Keep warm Diane
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed looking through your report about the plans that have come alive after the winter and are already blooming. As you can understand, this interests me much more now that I have my own space to plant things :)
ReplyDeleteOlga you are going to so enjoy having your own garden. I could not survive without mine :) Have a great weekend. Diane
ReplyDeleteOh, how I envy. We've had a late bloom here in Boston as it's been so chilly, especially at night.
ReplyDeleteI can admire the photos of all the beautiful things that are blooming for you and dream of what's to come...
P.S. Wonderful new profile picture. You look beautiful!
Ree thanks for the kind comment of my profile picture, they say the camera never lies, but I have to say I think Nigel struck lucky with this shot. I look much younger here than I am, the light must have been good:)
ReplyDeleteThe garden seems to be between blooms at the moment! Diane
Happy Easter to you and Nigel. Isn't Spring wonderful, it is so good to feel that warmth from the sun on your face :) though I cannot complain, we have had such a mild winter here in Ireland. The mildest since I moved here in 2006. I love your flower photographs. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Dolly and I hope that you have had a peaceful and blessed Easter. Our winter though shortish was one of the worst since the 50's so we really felt it. I think I have lost a couple of shrubs but I will just have to replant. The weather has cooled down a little again at the moment but hopefully it will soon warm up properly! Keep well Diane x
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