Starting with the forsythia a month ago, no, even earlier than that, with the snowdrops at the beginning of the year - what a show we have been treated to with seemingly continuous displays and explosions of wonderful colours punctuating our gardens for months.

The winter flowering cherry - Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’ - normally comes to the end of its flowering period during March, but I have seen several which, prior to leafing up, have been smothered with heavy blossom. Such a bonus.

The flowering currant - Ribes sanguineum - has never looked so good either, bedecked top to toe with flowers that look like plump raspberries. However, a word of warning… it may look tempting, but don’t go burying your nose amongst the blooms as they smell of cat pee!

On to the magnolias - untouched by any late frosts, they really have been, and still are magnificent. It seems that as soon as any plant begins to flower it is going into overtime. Amelanchiers that take your breath away, cherry blossom like snow, primroses and fritillaries in abundance and now the tulips.

We are told to expect a spectacular display of bluebells as well - drifts of blue that will spin magic carpets through our woodlands. Apparently, this is all to do with having had a proper winter, well, that’s my theory, and now we have had a bit of welcome rain the countryside is suddenly bathed in a green glow of new leaves and vibrant growth.

Ah breathe deeply, spring is full on - birds are nesting, days are lengthening, everything is blossoming and blooming and…

…the swallows are back.