Spring is just around the corner...

[Zosherooney]

As well as snow drops and daffs giving colour, I notice that my mock orange (griggia's bush, as she sits under it) has little green tips showing... Yippeee ! My Dad's chilean pine is swelling at the top again and my Epyphylium (sp?) has tiny buds starting to form.

[StokeySue]

My rosemary bush is threatening to turn blue with flowers, quite glad it hasn't made it yet as Doris would damage the flowers, but the buds might survive

[suffolk]

I saw a very sheltered hedgerow covered with green buds yesterday, near Sheringham Park.
I was driving so didn't get a very good look, but I think it may have been the Common Dogwood.

[WWordsworth]

Doris has knocked quite a few buds off the magnolia.

[suffolk]

I saw a big patch of celandine smiling at me from a hedge bank yesterday - liked a patch of spring sunshine

[Luca]

After his return from NZ eldest son did some gardening........... things are coming up. I believe it's a medley of daffodils/tulips/crocuses/snowdrops and other such bulbs he found in the garage which had been given as gifts.... to be planted in pots...... and 'that' moment got lost! It should be interesting and I may even have to take photos! Given the amount he said were planted.... and the amount poking their heads up....... I think some may have been sent south!

[Seatallan]

[Zosherooney]

On the subject of crocuses... we spotted one single flower coming up in our lawn about 2/3 feet from the nearest ones. Never had one there before??? I thought they were corms not seeds, the lawn has always been there....? Suff, one for you???

[StokeySue]

Good moaning
Zosh crocuses have seeds as well as corms, they wouldn't bother with the flowers if not to make seeds
Grey here, must head to the butcher soon
Have a good day

[Zosherooney]

Thanks Sue, did not know that, just thought the corms doubled and created new sprouts. The stray crocus has been marked by a stick and will be transported to it's new home when finished flowering - hope it survives the 'move'

[suffolk]

[suffolk]

[suffolk]

[suffolk]

[suffolk]

Spring has arrived !

[Zosherooney]

Lovely Suff ! We have daffs out but they are all lying on the ground thanks to Doris !!!!!

[suffolk]

Looks like mine are too!!!

I've got the native daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus budding nicely, they're not as early as some of the cultivated ones, but so delicate and elegant - they remind me of the ones on the bank around Ma's veg patch on the farm.
There was a clump of 'sports' too - very like the Rip van Winkle type you can buy - I've planted some of those in the hope that they may cross with the ordinary native ones and we'll eventually get some like the ones I remember.

[PatsyMFagan]

[Hope]

Lovely pictures Suffs.

We have hellebores, violets, crocuses (yes, I found them!) primulas/primroses, irises, winter-flowering jasmine, cyclamen (been flowering since autumn - love it!)

Lots of daffs in bud.

I'm feeling the urge to garden again!

[Badger's mate]

Had the first picking of PSB off the plot today

Forced rhubarb on the way...

[StokeySue]

Had English PSB today, but bought
lovely pics Suffolk
My cyclamen are also going well, but the alyssum that has been keeping them company since Christmas has gone over

[scullion]

ha! we had our first purple sprouting, from the community garden, nearly a month ago.

[Badger's mate]

[suffolk]

Yes, the Farm Shop has had local PSB since around Christmas

[Badger's mate]

Just had another sign of Spring on the plot. Last year I planted some 'Romanesco' broccoli on the end of the patch where the lorry-load of 'goodness' gets delivered in the Spring. About half of them cropped last Autumn, when they were supposed to. I assumed I had got the plants muddled up and that the remainder were Spring-heading collys, which I also grow. In fact, having survived the delivery, these plants are now cropping and are indeed Romanesco. This has spread the harvest nicely; the January King cabbages are starting to bolt, the collys won't be ready for a month, and the PSB has only just started.

Does anyone else grow, or cook Romanesco? What do you do with it?

[Lokelani]

We've just come back from a holiday in Cornwall, where the magnolias, camellias & daffodils were all fully out or about to go over. It was a real treat, not too bad to come home and find ours still to look forward to in West Sussex.

Frogspawn was late to appear in our pond this year compared to last, unsurprisingly.

[StokeySue]

I love Romanesco but don't do much with it
Saw some beauties in the shop over the road, wonder if Hicky's cauli soup might not work with Romesco? It has a sharper flavour than cauli and might take the added ingredients well

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9803&p=429351#p429351

[Badger's mate]

I generally cook Romanesco very simply; steamed or lightly boiled and served with S&P and butter. I love roasted colly so maybe should try roasting some of these. The soup idea sounds good, thanks. Colly risotto and cauliflower cheese will be made frequently when that crop starts up, so I'll avoid adapting those. In this house, broccoli sometimes gets served with lemon or sumac and EVOO, or oyster sauce and sesame oil. Last autumn was my first-ever crop so never previously had a surplus to think about.

[Suelle]

I know Spring is around the corner - the ants are out today!

[suffolk]

Spring is definitely here - I saw the loveliest and very special thing today- a group of 'March hares' boxing in a wheatfield in the sunshine

[Luca]

How super Suffs!

[earthmaiden]

Oh Suffs, how lovely!

An area of grass is left in our local park for spring flowers to come through every year - they are out now, a whole beautiful carpet of them. Stunning. My favourite time of year for flowers.

[Luca]

My favourite time too EM. Regeneration and I somehow feel more optimistic when I see them out.

[suffolk]

I also saw a hawthorn hedge covered with 'bread & cheese'

[TezzaBear]

I just saw a pretty display of Hyacinths in bloom in somebody's flower bed. Beautiful! All different colours well laid out to compliment each other. I would have taken a photo and post it but couldn't get my hands on my phone in time. It was a lovely sight.

[Zosherooney]

Putting my comment here because it's almost appropriate !

Just been out into the orchard to peg out some hand washing and noticed that one of my apple trees (russet) has blossom on one of the branches. Also the earliest clematis that normally flowers in Jan/Feb is just finishing a batch of flowering..... It is so warm and balmy out there I might get the patio furniture out again !

[suffolk]

Is that Clematis 'Freckles' Zosh? Mine's also been flowering for weeks, but it often does that
On GW a few people have spoken of fruit trees in blossom this week ... the weather turned cool and now warm again ... it'll take a bit out of them so a dose of Fish, Blood & Bone in late February will give them the energy to put our plenty of blossom next spring.

[Zosherooney]

Suff. The clematis is the one with thick long waxy type leaves not freckles, I do have that one as well. The one that is flowering now has delicate white flowers (Armandi I think).

I will remember to feed the apple trees in Feb. Thanks for the thumbs up.

[suffolk]

Yes, that sounds like C. armandii ... most of them have a lovely perfume when the sun shines on them. Gorgeous.