Signs of Spring 2024

[dunnyrail]

Not quite there yet, but next morning we will be. The unseasonably mild weather down south has set things going. The yellow and pink flowers are always early starters.
This little batch of snowdrops in a sheltered position tend to be first to flower every year.
Still not out of the possibility of extreme cold spells yet, but passing of the solstice and these brave little chaps warm the heart and make one think of better weather plus train playing to come.

 

[playmofire]

The yellow one is jasmine and "oop north" here has been in flower since November.

 

[Madman]

The plants and animals don't know which way to go. Daffodils are sprouting around here.....

 

[JimmyB]

So here is my Quince, been flowering all through December, the hellebore next to is supposed to be flowering :

 

[dunnyrail]

The yellow one is jasmine and "oop north" here has been in flower since November.

Thanks, I reckon this must be an early flowerer. Looking at my Tree and Shrub Expert bookzine suggests it must be a Winter Jasmine but does not suggest which month one would expect it to flower!

 

[playmofire]

Thanks, I reckon this must be an early flowerer. Looking at my Tree and Shrub Expert bookzine suggests it must be a Winter Jasmine but does not suggest which month one would expect it to flower!

Sounds the same as ours which usually starts flowering in November time but was at least a month earlier this year.

 

[Paul M]

My Winter Jasmine tends to flower any time it seems to think fit.

 

[playmofire]

My Winter Jasmine tends to flower any time it seems to think fit.

Obviously ours and yours communicate as this year I think it has had some flowers on pretty well all year round.

 

[Paul M]

It's a nice plant, the yellow goes well with the dandelions

 

[dunnyrail]

It's a nice plant, the yellow goes well with the dandelions

Sadly I have almost eradicated dandelions from my garden.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Sadly I have almost eradicated dandelions from my garden.

I wish I had

Yes, the early bloomers are earlier this year - no need to panic, things tend to sort themselves out. It's taken since the pandemic for our local ponds to be back up to normal levels

 

[playmofire]

Sadly I have almost eradicated dandelions from my garden.

Yes, the dandelions are good feed for the early bees.

 

[dunnyrail]

Well and truly arrived with trees having this display and interested bee.

 

[Paul M]

It's not one of the Varroa Destructor bees is it?

 

[playmofire]

It's not one of the Varroa Destructor bees is it?

I have my doubts about it too, Paul.

 

[JimmyB]

It's not one of the Varroa Destructor bees is it?

Varroa destructor, the Varroa mite, is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world

 

[dunnyrail]

It's not one of the Varroa Destructor bees is it?

Hm who knows, the destructor is actually a mite possibly passed on from other bees.

Varroa destructor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ge_rik]

By coincidence, I've just been to our local Co-op and one of the chaps in there was wheeling a trolley load of de-icers from the display to the back room. I asked him if this was an early sign that Spring is on its way.

Rik

 

[Gizzy]

Blossom on our trees now, but one thing we have noticed on our travels are the fields of yellow oil seed rape....