Always a pleasure to see Lungworts (Pulnonaria officinalis). The flowers morph through exquisite hues of pink and blue. Where the common name ends in "wort" and/or the Latin name includes "officinalis" the plant in question was believed to have some medicinal or herbal use. 

 In the case of Pulmonaria species this probably related to the Mediaeval 'Doctrine of Signatures'. By that reckoning plants resembled parts of the body they could cure. The speckled leaves of Pulmonaria resemble an afflicted lung hence Lungwort.  

Caterpillar on Grape Hyacinth. 

 Burymead Springs is on the outskirts of Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It has been described as "part of an ancient riverside meadow, sandwiched between the River Hiz, the Hitchin railway flyover and a scrapyard".

 In the mid-90s a spring fed lagoon was excavated to create an area of permanent open water surrounded by reed beds and the wet meadows. The flyover was built alongside the existing railway embankment a decade ago to create a better junction between the East Coast Mainline and the Cambridge line. The ancient seems to co-exist reasonably well with modernity.

 One might also mention the close proximity to an abandoned sewerage works, a functioning sewage works, the Hitchin industrial estate, a large area of allotments and the village of Ickleford. This patchwork is not untypical of urban fringes where town meets country and not without interest to the nature lover.

 The Snowdrops in the garden have finished flowering leaving a thick blanket of foliage which will wither in the weeks ahead. It's important to leave them be as they continue to photosynthesise building up their reserves of energy in the bulb itself. A bulb is a bulb by virtue of being a storage organ during dormancy for next year's growth.

 These Snowdrops have probably been there for decades and multiplied over time. I've helped them on their way by digging up small clumps and relocating them round and about. Planting "in the green" has long been regarded as the best way to propagate Snowdrops. Some traditional nurseries still dispatch Galanthus species with their greenery at this time of year. In fact planting the bulbs in autumn is fine if they are freshly lifted. Some bulbs respond well to being stored during their dormant period but Snowdrops do not like to dry out.

 Another way to go about it is to buy pot grown bulbs and put them into the ground while they are still in leaf. I saw these Galanthus nivalis Flore Piano on a market stall. They were selling them off at £1 a pot or 6 for £5. Since each pot contains 5 or 6 bulbs that is no more expensive than buying them as loose bulbs in the autumn. Looking forward to seeing them in 2024!

 I bought some knobbly Jerusalem Artichokes from a market stall. These are for planting on the allotment rather than eating. They multiply rapidly and are harvested in late winter. Helianthus tuberosus is of the same genus as Sunflowers and grows to a similar height.

 Yes, the bees are buzzing now the days are getting milder. Plants are starting to come out of dormancy but not much is in flower as yet. Narcissus February Gold provides some early forage. This is quite a large daffodil and bees will crawl right into the trumpet. Worth clicking on the photo to enlarge it: note the very long tongue at work!

 A particular favourite: Flowering Quince. Pretty sure this is 'Crimson and Gold' one of the Chaenomeles x superba cultivars. Long lived, hardy, versatile. Grows in full sun but tolerates a fair amount of shade. Striking as a standalone shrub, can also be used as a hedging plant. Usually grown as an ornamental but "bears masses of apple-size fruits" to quote Martin Crawford. I saw it growing in his forest garden in Devon a few years back. He rates Chaenomeles species as reliable croppers with "a wonderful range of lemon and citrus flavours". 

 Honeybees were buzzing all over this one as seen below- my first bee photo of 2023! The cold start to the year has kept bees in hibernation by and large. I've noticed a few bumblebees on the wing; these will be Queens in search of nectar and pollen and somewhere to nest. Bumblebees are furry and able to tolerate cooler weather. Honeybees do not emerge from the hive until temperatures reach about 10℃ .