It’s one of those #sitoutsideinatshirt kind of days which inspired me to grab my camera and take some photos of the signs of spring all around me. My stroll took me no further than 5 minutes from Lou Messugo but look at what I found.
The first and most obvious sign is the mimosa everywhere; in distant gardens, peaking through tall cypruses, sprouting above palms, hiding behind hedges, this is mimosa’s golden moment. But then this isn’t surprising in early March as it usually starts blooming in late January. Its arrival heralds the beginning of the end of winter in the south of France…
In the lane I spotted irises, daffodils, crocus, blossom, camelias, gorse, a type of anemone (I think) and even a couple of poppies!
And in the garden the 2 different types of rosemary are flowering, the trailing pale purple flowers which I’ve never known the name of are really coming along (I really must find out what they’re called…mum, can you help?) The almond tree has started to blossom and the lawn is covered in daisies. It will soon need its first mow. The top of the ceonothus is blooming and is covered with bees and even the jasmine is covered with tiny buds.
I heard a woodpecker (and have seen him a couple of times in the garden though he’s always too quick for a photo) and there seem to be more garden birds than ever chirrping, squabbling and sadly flying into our big glass doors. Luckily it’s warm enough during the day to leave the doors open now which minimises collisions a little. (Did you get that?…It’s warm enough to leave windows and doors open…! That’s a true sign of spring.)
What else? I mentioned the bees in the ceanothus. There are plenty buzzing around which is always a good thing. Other insects are slowly beginning to wake up too though luckily none of the pesky ones yet. I’ve seen lizards sunbathing in the warm sun and the days are getting longer. We now have to close the chooks in around 6.50 pm when they naturally go home to roost at nightfall. In the depths of winter it was around 5 pm. Finally take a look at the photos below of the same view out of my kitchen window taken 5 days apart. The new growth on the hedge has really taken off in that short time.
If you’d like to experience these mild temperatures, blue skies and see some of these signs of spring yourself we still have some availability in the gite for the months of March – May. Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
What about where you are? What signs of spring have you seen? Or for my southern hemisphere readers, is autumn showing yet?
I’m feeling exactly the same as you! Blooming cherry trees and the smell of cut grass make me feel so gooood! Winter’s over, bring on spring and great outdoor adventures!
For once we are pretty forward up in Normandy and have also had a few days eating outside and walks in shirtsleeves. Here primroses are the star of the show with the verges packed full of them.
We maybe in the same country but we have such differences so it is lovely to see your garden.
#HDYGG
oh, what a nice post!
Pippa
Oh I love this – signs of Spring are the best after a long grey winter. I’m starting to notice slight bursts of colour!
Looks very pretty! We’re hoping to go to the South of France this summer 🙂
I have noticed the birds are singing more now and I am looing forward to blossom on the trees
Fab photos lovely! I can’t wait for better weather to come 🙂 xx
Happy Spring is in the air to you – glad to hear the little birds are singing down your way too!
Wren x
I am jealous too! We still have four feet of snow here in eastern Canada. No signs of spring yet, other than the lengthening days… Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing them with us.
Wow, I’m very impressed by your pictures of the ceonothus (mine is decidedly not in bloom yet here in the UK) and that you have your doors open at this time of year. Sounds like a gorgeous spring.
The crocuses and daffs are out in bloom around here. Lots of gorgeous purples and yellows. This is one of my favourite times of year.I love the splashes of colour peeping up amongst the bare trees
That is quite a spring you are having there…beautiful mosaics of the flowers and especially loved the mimosa ….my mother adorned this flower.
So much lovely colour. Totally jealous of course – I can only get those colours if I head to the florists and buy the flowers myself to pop in a vase!
I long for a tshirt day or even better a sunglasses one – not long to go now I hope.
Beautiful photos and thank you for joining in again – sorry if it’s taken me a while to read and comment but I was away over the weekend x
Hi Phoebe,
Visiting via Judith’s Mosaic Monday. Your beautiful signs of spring look very much like ours, here on the island of Crete, apart from the jasmine’s timing! Enjoyed these sunny images of our neighbours to the west! Have a lovely week!
Poppy
What gorgeous photos Phoebe…I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. We’re still in the throes of winter up here in Germany!
You have me hoping our spring will hurry along after seeing your photos. What a difference 5 days can make, even one sometimes!
In southern Ontario where I live we still have plenty of snow but finally some milder temperatures will start to melt it.
Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.
Hello, I am visiting from Judith’s Mosaic Monday. What a lovely post. So many gorgeous flowers, blossoms and plants..And I love the cute lizard. Your photos are gorgeous. We still have snow on the ground here, so I can not report any signs of spring yet.. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!
That’s good to hear 😮
The bright blus skies are a great feature of the Côte d’Azur, we get them all through winter too, which is one of the reasons it’s such a good year-round holiday destination, and so wonderful to live in!
The bird song is one of the best things I think.
Sounds lovely Richard. I’m excited that you’re coming to Lou Messugo soon too! 🙂
I love parks with loads of daffodils, you don’t see big amounts of them around here.
That’s good to hear Ness.
It’s so lovely to be able to get out and take photos isn’t it Agata?
Thanks Muza-Chan
Lovely photos…
Thank you Ryan 🙂
Weeds are the bane of spring! They grow so much faster than the nice stuff. Hope your spring gets going soon Michele.
Thanks for suggesting mosaic mondays Jackie, I didn’t know about it but will definitely be taking a look.
Sounds like your spring is well on its way Catherine. Glad you liked the wattle photos.
I wish I could see more of the baby animals Jan, but there aren’t any lambs or other cuties like that in this area.
It is really spectacular at this time of year Erica.
And another reader from the tropics! Thank you for your kind words Mom Kat.
And I’m excited to have a comment from a reader in Singapour! Thank you Amila!
yes it’s such a lovely time isn’t it Jen?
Thanks Kriss, what a nice thing to say.
Oh dear, poor you!
Thanks Michelle.
I’m not Rin, that’s why I need the mother’s help!
It seems most of France is having good weather at the moment, thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
Seeing bees is a great sign.
I hope so Betty!
Lovely pictures.
We had a lot of sun last week so I took few “trips” around the village with my camera to capture all new colours of the nature.
Spring is definitely further along in your area than it is in mine. I have a few daffodils just beginning to push up and, unfortunately, a ton of weeds everywhere. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so that I can start gardening. All the blooms you showed us are so beautiful.
The odd daffodil barely seems worth mentioning in comparison to these! Absolutely beautiful…!
What a spread of colour aroundnyou at the moment. I’ve been out and this weekend and spring is definitely coming along now.
It was beautiful today seeing all the daffodils out in full force in the local park x
We had lunch outside in Hastings yesterday, on a terrace right on the beach, and it was sunny and warm. But it’s not so good today, and I’m glad that we’ll soon be visiting Lou Messugo.
Great photos and such a nice reminder that spring is upon us! (With those wonderful mosaics, I hope you are linking with Mosaic Mondays – link to it is at the bottom of my post.) This one would be perfect there!
How lovely to see so many signs of spring! Here in the south of the UK the sun is shining and the first of the spring flowers are coming out – snowdrops and lesser celandine. Oh, and lots of bird song!
Those skies are just beautiful – nothing like the dull grey sky I can see right now x x
We have some spring flowers in our garden in north west England – very uplifting!
Spring has sprung in East Sussex too. However my wattle has dropped all it’s tiny balls of yellow fluff. We have daffodils, primroses, snowdrops crocuses, celandine iris and I expect many more spring flowers in other gardens. I have just seen a bee, so has our dog. He tries to eat them. But as an old Aussie I have to say your spring flowers make me very nostalgic. Thanks for sharing them
Spring is such a beautiful season with new flower and baby animals. 🙂
So many signs of spring – lovely. The mimosa in particular looks fantastic.
It brought a big smile to my face when I read your post because these photos are just lovely! It makes me wish that we have spring too in our country.
Sending love from #WeekendBlogHop!
beautiful captures and moments.Although I don’t have experience with these season changes,I can imagine how exciting to see these signs of spring!
Oh lovely. I adore Spring and the flowers and signs of life. Especially after what seems like a long winter
What is it about spring that makes one just feel lighter and happier? The answer is in your post – lots of lovely flowers and colours! I’m very jealous too that it’s warm enough for you to leave doors open – ‘sigh.’
Beautiful pictures! At the moment we have rain and gale force winds! The joys of living in Scotland lol. I can’t wait for Spring to arrive here
Absolutely gorgeous signs of spring! Slowly I’m starting to see the signs around where we live – time to head out in the woods to see what is starting to grow.
I never knew you were such an accomplished botanist, mind you, I think I would be inspired if I was surrounded by such beauty.
I loved reading this, thank you and great photos. Up here in the Charente Maritime we are slightly behind you, trees just about to bloom but not quite yet and have certainly not seen any lizards. However, it is so fantastic to feel the sun and warmth again, we even ate lunch outside today 🙂
Lovely photos! I’ve seen a few bees buzzing around today, I think they are waking up for Spring now 🙂
OK, this is making me positively jealous! But we are supposed to have warm(ish) temps this weekend and who knows, maybe I will be doing a “signs of spring” post soon!