Well it's now February, and we're fast approaching the 10th which (down here) is around the time the sun begins to feel warm on the skin.. A time to start preparing the garden for the new growing season.

The days are now getting noticeably longer, the early blooms are beginning to open. 

So heres a thread for all things spring 

A few from today, a reminder that despite the drizzle and chilly southeast wind that warmer weather is not far off..

If we are not slipping into a 'nina like' seasonal twinge ( sudden cold 4 weeks) then we might be in for a blissful tumble into spring with double digit days more the norm than the extreme?

If H.P. is the constant 'reset' then we might also be on for a blinding Summer?

If only we could get that lovely blob of orange slightly further west!

It's the first time it's flowered. It seems very early to me.

Admittedly they are in sheltered places, and the ones in grassy areas don’t yet have heads forming, but a few more mild days might help.

Wild plum tends to flower later in February and into early March down here in the far south, so yes probably very early for a more northern area like Darbyshire. There are some earlier plum variety that do flower in mid to late winter though, perhaps that's what you have? 

You could be right, I bought it off ebay as part of a fruit tree set so unsure of the variety. Will be interesting to see if I get any fruit off it. Knowing my luck we'll probably have a really severe spell of cold in the next 6 weeks which will frazzle the flower buds.

I think 'Frost burn' will be an increasing problem as we move on in our changes?

If we really are seeing 'Nino/Nina' characteristics for our winters being 'forced ' by the impacts of low sea ice on the strat each autumn/early winter then we might want to think of covering few flowers if frost suddenly hit on the forecast? Think Californians Orange/Lemon plantations!

When Nature itself is telling us the seasons are altering we'd better not ignore it because we believe it not so?

That's a common issue down here when the plums flower, late season frost in March.

In the middle of last week I went for a walk and noticed a cherry tree in nearly full bloom.  I thought about starting a 'Signs of Spring' thread, but as most people on here were eagerly looking at the short term prospects for snow, or looking out of the window at it falling, or getting stuck in(to) it, I wasn't sure how much interest there would be.  Today the tree is looking blooming lovely, so I'm pleased to contribute my observation of it.

Could the mods give a ruling on whether we should use this thread or the 'Signs of Spring' in the Science section?

Every single day in the BBC 14-day forecast here is above 10C. Dry too, with some sunshine. 

I've created a general spring sticky weather discussion thread here:

https://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twocommunity/default.aspx?g=posts&t=19782

So will lock this one now.