I went for a little scamper around the city parks at the weekend. Southampton isn’t renowned for being the most aesthetically pleasing place in the world (although it is one of the most sustainable cities in England), but it has some marvellously beautiful parks right in the middle of all the bustling shops. And right now, those parks are packed with early spring colour. There were so many flowers around every corner that I started to realise that we’re out of the woods. Winter is slinking back to where it belongs, finally. Hoorah!

I think if I had the money, I’d find it very easy to get obssessed with snowdrops, especially following our Collectors’ Item series last month. These are Galanthus nivalis, plain and simple, but still marvellous.

The parks were full of waxy, beautiful camellia blossoms. These are some of my favourite flowers in the whole world, partly because they bloom so early and are so prolific when so many other plants are shy and tiny, but also because there are so many beautiful cultivars. The camellias in Southampton are huge and have tremendous impact. They find themselves very welcome on our acid, sandy soil as well.

Ipheion uniflorum

I came away with very muddy knees after crawling up to these lovely crocuses.

And I spent far too long taking snaps of this witch hazel. Not just because the flame-coloured flowers are so fabulous and odd-looking, but also because the smell is completely and utterly out of this world.

All around the city, plants are starting to shake themselves off and wake up. The fat beetle-case buds of chestnuts and cherries are slowly swelling. Daffodil foliage is poking up through the soil, ready to flower. You can hear birds singing in the mornings. When I walk to the train at 6.45 every morning, the sky is light. Spring is on the way, and I am ever so glad.

What’s blooming around you at the moment?