Spring is officially here so it's time to open up a new thread for you to post offerings for the new season

Still waiting, it's in the air though.
When the wind is in the east, the gloom is almost palpable sometimes.
The three degree days at the end of winter.

As unspringlike an image as one could imagine .........love it all the same

A clear sign of spring on the moors as controlled burning is in full swing.
I think they got a bit ambitious this afternoon and unusually, wind picked up about sunset.
So they were letting this last patch burn out on it's own I think - it was never out of control.
You can see vehicle lights LH side

One fine day at Folkestone.

Glorious blue skies over the town today had enabled me to take this panorama photo . . .

Sorry about putting this page out of kilter with this wiiiiiiide photo but make it any smaller and most of the detail in the photo would become lost.

The shoots on my day lilies were sprouting fast, only to be nibbled on by this little lady!

My daffies were struggling up through the snow this morning

and the snowdrops

but it was quite pretty in the sunshine

My daffies were struggling up through the snow this morning

 

No such problems with the cold 600 miles to the south in Kew Gardens (before the crowds arrived)

Daff and Martin............great pictures and great contrasts there

Finally, it felt like conditions were ripe for some spring-related photography. The following three photos have all been taken today (Tues 15th Mar).

At 7.15 am while on my way to work . . .

"The Secret Garden", an old garden shed basking in the mid-morning sunshine. Actually, this was located near my workplace and I've only just noticed it after 17 years!

Capnips hanging in the mid-morning sunshine.

Scenes from the Basingstoke Canal at Deepcut

and from the Thames at Reading - these were wathching a bit of male rivalry out of shot

Gorse at Poole Harbour

Treyford village from the Downs, and the violets growing nearby

What an eclectic mixture

If I didn't know better I'd think there were pictures from all 4 seasons in here

I especially liked Ian's Catnip pic  - I think they're called Catkins though

What an eclectic mixture

If I didn't know better I'd think there were pictures from all 4 seasons in here

 

I especially liked Ian's Catnip pic  - I think they're called Catkins though

 Indeed, you're right. Shame on me what with having been a gardener and greenhouse worker for the past 29 years!

Sadly, today our weather had reverted to the default overcast gloom that seem to have been the norm of late.
  However, this afternoon I went for a short wander in some woodland near my workplace and got this photo.

Not at all spring-like I know but, welllll, you know our climate.  

Blue skies and sunshine in this lovely spell of high pressure...

and buds beginning to form on the trees...

I think his feathers were all fluffed up as it was still minus 4 or so!

Sunshine all the way in Sussex:

The Arun flood plain and Greatham bridge (the larger arches on the right and out of shot were added when the Arun was part of the Wey-Arun Canal)

RSPB reserve at Pulborough

Nutbourne mill pond

and a curiosity - the Church in the Woods at Bramdean Common, Hampshire, built in 1885 for the gypsies who camped on the common, and still in occasional use. Nearest road is 1/4 mile away.

Last few days here:
Wild daffodils -


Blackthorn -


Hour old lambs -

Have been popping my HDR cherry recently, and I think these following three photos does a good job in showing off how warm and summer-like it has been around these parts.

The first photo was taken on the 20th April, the other two on the following day.







Last one is an unexpected success perhaps.
HDR seems to come into it's own with 'semi-interior' scenes like that.

Splashed out on a new lens for my 5DII today as I get cashback from canon if I got it before the month end.

I got the 5D in Feb but somehow have struggled to find much time for it yet with lambing etc.
The new lens is the 70-200mm F4L IS USM

Couldn't resist firing a few shots within minutes of it arriving - immediately noticed nice bokeh effect.
I'm going to enjoy this lens, it's incredibly fast focusing - and sharp.
These have just been cropped and resized really.