Daffodil watch and other signs of spring

[WaryCrow]

Inspired by a thread about the UK’s malingering grey gloom, does anyone want to tell us about signs of spring in their area? Them daffy-down-dillys are bright gold specifically to cheer us all up. The green parts have been building up anticipation in my area for a while. I saw buds last week and there is one clump near the railway station that showed a flash of gold.

Anyone know anything about animals they’d like to add?

Crocus are out and daffs budding here. Early daffs this week I suspect.
Coastal Kent.

They sound like much the same stage as here (north west)! I thought they’d be further along in the south!

We've had snowdrops out in the garden for about 4 weeks and the grape hyacinths are emerging too. And the local daffs are almost flowering.

Downside is hay fever is starting . . .

I’ve got a couple of daffs budding but not many yet. Crocus out. A nearby neighbour has lots out, I think their garden is more sheltered maybe. I’m in south west.

I've got snowdrops plus the crocus' and winter iris have emerged, they just need to open

Grape hyacinths took over my planters ages ago and the leaves have come up reliably. They are teasing though and hiding any stalks or buds yet. They’re supposed to be good for early bees.

Crocus and snowdrops are out, and catkins swinging in the Hazel tree. A few daffodils out in the church next to our school.

I planted some snowdrops for the first time in the summer and they have been out for a couple of weeks. My tete-a-tete are budding. I'm sure I also planted some crocus, but the squirrels seem to love the crocus bulbs more than anything none have come up yet.

I used to do a fairly long commute. In the dark there and back. I hated that commute. But, I loved this time of year. There were stretches of verges that have the most amazing spring bulbs. It'd start with the snow drops. Then the crocus. Then, a few miles up the road there is an enormous patch of daffodils. And once I'd seen them, I'd realise I wasn't driving in the dark. That the hedgerows were full of buds and were starting to green up. Blossom trees erupted.

And then, Easter would be around the corner. And it starts to be light at 6 pm. Light when I got in the car at 6am. And the trees would have leaves. And life got so much easier.

And now I don't do that commute, I realised I miss that routine of looking at the verges, and that feeling of relief when sure enough it all started.

Now I make do with some daffodils for a vase. And a vow to plant a million spring bulbs next autumn so I can see them from every window.

My sweet box and snowdrops are flowering. The rest of the bulbs I put in are emerging but not flowering yet. I have a mix of crocuses, grape hyacinth, hyacinth and daffodils planted. Later I should have some ornamental onion flowers coming up. I haven’t put tulips in this year although I wish I had.

Whereabouts are you @May09Bump - north, south, east, west? I can mentally see your church daffys bobbing outside in the wind!

(I did give in and got some from the shop the other day @AlwaysFreezing). I used to be a bit off about buying fresh flowers just because, but at this time of year they are soooo worth it.

I saw the first few snow drops on the 19th of Jan.
They are now out in force and crocus with daffodil buds also... So far same as you lovely fellow spring watchers.

But I'd like to add that yesterday I saw my first nest building crow! 🐦‍⬛🪹

its clearly too early in the morning (even if it is half done) for my phone to manage copy and paste so I have to quote. Birds nesting already! Woo hoo!

I look forward to seeing the frantic parents to’ ing and fro’ing to stuff stuff down the ravenous jaws….

We get starlings near us, I’ve seen a few generations raised but I don’t think they’ve flown back to us yet.

And I forgot the catkins! Reliable hazel, we love you!

Im really looking forward to seeing my daffodils popping. My dad got me the bulbs 2 years ago and he passed away unexpectedly in December. We see lots more rabbits in spring/summer and I am looking forward to that. Haven't seen any deer for a while, which is a good thing because they are so dangerous in the winter months on the road.

I’m sorry to hear that @Spongebobpatrick . That will be a beautiful memorial though.

I work from my bedroom and there's a big hazel tree outside. There's definitely birds coming for their twigs

My snowdrops have been out for about 2 weeks. Yesterday I spotted my first daffodil in a flower box on the middle of a busy junction.
My daughter noticed the first few blossom on the tree yesterday too.
From my window I can see my neighbours camellia in full bloom 🌸

Saw the first blackbird in the garden yesterday. Hedge is budding. Starlings starting to get chirpier. Narcissi popping up 😊

Daffs are out in several places here- North Devon. The super early ones were even showing yellow in January. I always look out for these first signs of hope. Reminders of warmer, brighter and easier days to come.

Hazel has been at catkin stage for several weeks. Winter flowering Jasmine, winter flowering honeysuckle and witch hazel have been out for over a month.
We have crocuses and snowdrops out, but the other spring bulbs, daffodils and tulips etc, in full leaf but no flowers yet.
Just a short walk away some gardens do have some spring bulbs in flower, in more shaded spots.
It really is spirit-raising to see the flowers even when they are not in your own garden.

(Location Sussex, a couple of miles inland.)

It certainly is, I view the daffs as little drops of sunshine. Take that grey skies!

I too love when daffs come, as a sign of spring.

Baby Egyptian geese!

Daffs have been out a few weeks here. Crocuses the last few days……..
All the spring buds are on the trees ready to open in a couple of weeks.