The snowdrops are well and truly up now and the Christmas roses are starting to strutt their stuff.  Christmas roses never seem to make it in time for Christmas and I'm pleased that they don't.  They would almost certainly get lost in the hustle and bustle of the festive period.  At this time of year, when the days are getting longer and I'm starting to venture out more, I can really appreciate these delicate beauties.  'February roses' are fine by me.

Christmas roses appear to be one of the few plants bucking the trend to flower earlier.  If only more plants were!  Yesterday's Guardian highlighted how earlier springs could destroy the delicate balance of wildlife.  Yet another undesirable consequence of climate change.