So far this week at The Gables we’ve had frost, biting wind, and yesterday an all-day deluge with wall to wall gloom. But today, St. Valentine’s, the rain has held off. In fact it’s been almost warm, with a glimmering of sunshine, and up in the top garden this clump of seedling crocus was in full fanfare.
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And not only that, Mr. Whippy, the ice-cream man, was back in town. Jangling rendition of O Sole Mio up and down streets. And then while I was snapping the crocus, along buzzed a honey bee, the first I’ve seen and heard this year.
Anyone would think it was spring.
But then February can be a tricksy month in England, ambushing us with a day of sudden warmth, only to whip up more icy blasts just when we’ve been daft enough to cast off our thickest winter woolly.
So: best not to count one’s spring chickens too soon.
This bee, though, is definitely seizing the moment, making the most of fine weather, and a rich pollen harvest. (Note the gathering sac on the rear leg; full pollen facial thrown in). What’s not to love.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Lens-Artists: Weather This week Anne at Slow Shutter Speed has us weather watching. Plenty to inspire us in her lively photo essay.
Tish Farrell 
Beautiful photos! Hope you don’t get too many more icy days.
Thanks for those good wishes, Angeline.
Tish, what fantastic macros! Beautiful post.
Thank you, kind sir 🙂
Beautiful post.
Many thanks.
My pleasure.
Happy Valentines’ Day Tish! Loved your macros and I hope your weather holds. We had two days of sun and now the overcast skies and rains are back. Still, rain is better than drought. We need that snow pack to get us through the summer.
Wishing you fair weather, Anne. Rain is indeed better than drought, though here in the UK we do seem to feel forever soggy under foot.
😍
I just loved your little pollen-coated bee Tish, so hard at work harvesting yet still enough for you to capture him. And the crocuses are so lovely. Here’s hope for an early spring and no blasts of cold wind to hurt the flowers. Beautiful response to the challenge!
Many thanks, Tina. And for those ‘no icy blasts’ good wishes 🙂
One simple flower, one single bee, but what a world they open up!
Hello, Cora. Yes, indeed. A wonderful small world 🙂
What a lovely Valentine’s bouquet, Tish!
Cheers, my dear! Hoping your feeling more recovered.
Feeling fine, hon, but neither chocolates nor red roses arrived today. A bag of crisps is not quite the same. Even a big bag…
Oh dear. I guess we’re in the same boat – roseless and choc-less. Not even a bag of crisps this end either 🙂 But good to hear you’re feeling better. Keep up the good work.
Ahhh, February in England. Keeps you guessing, eh?
I’m rather remembering how we were moving house last March and it snowed for 2 days.
Absolutely wonderful! Spring – where are you?
Are you still freezing, A-C? So far we’ve been more wet than frozen, but perhaps I shouldn’t say that.
Ha, well, we are wet too now. Melting snow and pouring rain. But that is to be expected. Keep well!
your crocuses are ice-cream for bees this early in the year – eye-candy photos too but I’m surprised the blooms are not more downcast, face in the mud, after so much wet weather
Ice-cream for bees. Love that, Laura. And yes, I was surprised to see the crocuses so upstanding, especially as they had obviously been rained on.
I hope spring is definitely on its way to you. What a lovely tribute to the glory of spring! Great images, too.
Many thanks, Patti.
Gorgeous!
Many thanks 🙂
Such a busy bee, making the most of a warmish day
Hello Pauline. Indeed it was busy. It visited every flower, several times over.
Crocus and a bee already? You are lucky. Beautiful photos!
We ARE lucky. Even some sunshine today. Thanks, Jennie.
😀
WOW. I LOVE crocus, and those are GREAT bee captures. Excellent.
Many thanks, John. Crocus are so cheering aren’t they; yet so delicate.
Ah the utter joy of seeing those first crocuses. We are still under snow, but it’s supposed to warm up. Soon.
Good to hear you’re recuperating well after so much anxiety and intervention. Wishing you warmer weather ASAP.
Great bee shots – I have yet to see a bee and my poor crocuses are lying prone on the soil. They certainly suffer from the fog and mist and mizzle.
Yes, they soon go splat in dank weather. The ones I snapped were in sheltered nook, and seemed a bit more resilient.
Beautiful flowers and how wonderful to see a bee already! We’re avoiding February, one of my least favourite months, by holidaying in Mexico, but you’re right, it can surprise us with the odd lovely day!
Holiday in Mexico – that sounds wonderful, Sarah. Happy travels.
Bees! 😀
Bees, indeed 🙂 🙂
😀
oh, that sweet bee overindulging as he should. It sure looks like spring with the crocus welcome. And I can picture Mr. Whipple encouraging the season to come along.
Cheers, Donna. It was a happy sighting. Looks pretty chilly in your neck of the woods. No signs of spring for a while yet?
The spring is on its way here. Just his morning I saw some tiny wildflowers making their entrance. I don’t want it to come too fast. Summer heat sends us in.
That’s a lovely image of impending spring, Donna. Tiny wildflowers making their presence felt.
A particularly lovely take on Weather.
Many thanks, Margaret.
These are great pictures, Tish, the crocus shots are lovely and also the bee gathering pollen!
Many thanks, Sylvia. They certainly brightened my day too.
Awesome pictures… now I know they are crocus… I see them so often 🙂