The start of February marks the traditional Druid festival of Imbolc, celebrating the beginning of spring, being about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Of course these days, Imbolc is some six weeks ahead of what we now tend to think of as the official start of spring in March, but nonetheless, this is the time when the first earliest signs of the garden waking up start to appear.

After the long dark winter wait for life to return, the days start to lighten, lovely displays of snowdrops appear along with the shoots of hidden spring bulbs, and on cold but clear sunny days, as we finish pruning in the orchard, beautifully delicate crocuses come out to keep us company.