Signs of spring?

Peering up at me from one of the shady flower beds today was a little surprise – my first Primrose flower of the season (right). Funny how that simple lemon-coloured flower, such a feature of ancient woodlands, can trigger such a little moment of pleasure. Perhaps it was as my mind ran away with the idea that here was a signal that spring is not too far away.

Of course, it isn’t actually the case. All across the country, the odd Primrose plant will throw up the occasional winter bloom, a sort of speculative move but never the full flush of flowers you get in March or April.

I only grow the native Primrose Primula vulgaris and not its cultivars nor its hybrids which have given us the familiar Polyanthus group of garden plants. But I base this decision merely on the fact that I like the simplicity of our native woodland flower and the memories it evokes, rather than on any wildlife rationale.

And actually that leads to an important point, because while you may see the odd Bee-fly supping at the flowers, and I’ve seen an overwintering Hummingbird Hawkmoth having a go too, Primroses aren’t major hosts for wildlife. Native they may be, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into them being five-star honeypots.

But that won’t stop me growing them and enjoying the flowers. And even though winter may still lie between us and spring, with my Snowdrop leaves just starting to poke through too (left), it’s just nice to see signs of life in the borders.