Reluctant Spring.

The first daffodil of the year is nearly open. It wouldn’t win any prizes in a daffodil beauty competition, but it looks rather splendid to me and has been duly thanked and congratulated on winning the race. The hyacinths are also just beginning to show, and there’s a little spiky orange thing that looks like some sort of dwarf tulip. We’re forecast two more frosty nights, and then it should turn a little milder. And even though the temperature is still well below average for early April, there were even a few gnats flying today. Maybe the bats will be brave and venture out next week.

There was a news report last week which said that Britain’s oldest known female osprey had arrived from her West African wintering area. I’ll bet she wished she hadn’t bothered.