Just when you think it's Spring...

 There were definite signs of Spring.  Crocuses...

 more crocuses...

 the last hurrah of the snowdrops...

flowering away with the cyclamen coum...

 more crocuses...

 and more...

 Hellebores...

 and daffodils...

 then, last weekend, this (again!)

 Those poor plants - they wouldn't know if they were coming or going.  Luckily, the snow had gone by last Tuesday and today...

 anemone blanda...

 camellia flowers...

 cardamine quinquifolia (I bought this last year, so this is the first time I have seen it in flower - so pretty)...

a self-sown sweet violet...

 bright and bold primulas...

 lovely blue scillas...

and a blue hyacinth (Blue Magic).  Is it Spring now?  Well, it looks like it today but there have been mumblings about a cold snap over the Easter weekend, including more snow.  I am really hoping they are wrong!

Gardening

I have finally managed to get out in the garden and do some sorting out! Hooray! I've pruned roses, clematis and miscanthus grasses, I've potted on a couple of hydrangeas and moved a rose bush that was in the wrong place. I have tidied and sorted the pots at the front door and cut down stems from perennials in the back garden. I have divided astrantia major and spread it around the borders. There are a few bare patches in the borders, but things will soon start to grow. These scillas were planted last autumn in a container and are providing a lovely splash of lapis lazuli blue at the moment, and I noticed lots of muscari (grape hyacinth) bulbs coming up which will continue the blue theme.

Inspiration in the depths of winter

I just had to get out into the garden today and spent a little while sweeping up some of the leaves and other detritus which had accumulated on the path. While I was taking a break from all this activity, I had a good look around and found some encouraging signs. Snowdrops are on the way as can be seen from the photo above. This clump is in a pot and I seem to have most success with those in pots even though snowdrops are not supposed to be happy kept in this way. The above clump will need dividing this year, once they have finished flowering.

My winter flowering jasmine is flowering away happily at the moment. Yes, it is a straggly shrub, but I can't help loving the splash of colour at this time of year when we all need it most.

And finally, more brave little violas, daring to flower and providing yet more colour and encouragement to us.

I also noticed my scillas growing and various leaf buds on hydrangeas and roses and clematis too. All is not lost and I am starting to feel (albeit tentatively) a little more positive about the plants. All apart from my poor hardy fuchsias, which at the moment, resemble dead sticks. If there is no sign of growth on them by May (some take a long time to get going), I shall be having a bit of a clear out.

While pottering outside, I couldn't miss the scent of the Christmas Box either - a rather odd mixture of honey and a hint of cat. I find a little of that scent goes a long way!