The Spring is Sprung, the Grass is Ris....

Acer x Conspicuum Phoenix
And so it was today at Hilliers' Gardens, just twenty miles north of us near Romsey. Spring really sprung - though Ogden Nash was not entirely right; there were plenty of boidies singing their hearts our today.

Most striking of all was the colour. We are supposed to be in midwinter, but it has been amazingly mild this year ('Oh, we'll pay for it later', say the pundits) As for me, I just like to enjoy it while we have the opportunity.

So here are a few pictures from our day out today, a good way of continuing the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord.

Not just the bare stems of dogwoods and maples for colour, though; there were great shows of berries still, and well ahead of their time witch hazels, snowdrops, camellias and even daffodils. Altogether a very cheerful afternoon.