Column: Embracing the joys of spring - despite its arrival in fits and starts

Spring weather is unpredictable at the best of times but there seems to be a very start-stop feel to it all so far this year.

We get a few nice days that bring a little bit of colour and growth, and then we seem to be plunged back into the winter again. The bite from the south easterly wind that we have been experiencing hasn’t helped. I don’t usually feel the cold too much. However, I have in the last week found myself looking in utter disbelief at temperature readings of 11°C or 12°C displayed on my car dashboard. ‘Real feel’ would be closer to 5°C.

My garden has been largely left to its own devices for the last few years. But thankfully, the groundwork that I did when we moved into our home 17 years ago pays dividends at this time of year.

Hardy spring flowers are well able to cope with changing weather conditions and I love how the sequence of their annual appearance carries us from the first hint of spring into the warmth of early summer.

The tiny purple or yellow crocus heads are the first to appear, usually in February, giving a flash of rich colour against the frost and snow.

Next up are the daffodils. I have quite a selection, from the traditional big and bold yellow variety to tiny narcissi and others that include doubles in various colours, or tall stems with creamy white outer petals and orange-edged trumpets, and a paler yellow variety that is almost star shaped. 

By the way, I didn’t set out to create a collection. If only I was that organised! It was more a matter of what was available when I planted them, and how well I thought they would work together in terms of colour and size. And I have to say, I’m very pleased with the results. 

I particularly love how daffodil heads always turn towards the sun, following it throughout the day. And no matter how bedraggled they become in heavy rain and stormy weather, they pick themselves up and bask gloriously in any available bit of sunshine. They really do epitomise the feeling of renewed energy that comes with spring.

As the days get longer, tulips start to make an appearance. I don’t know if it's the same for everyone, but mine are a bit later than usual in blooming this year, no doubt due to the aforementioned nip in the air. 

There are so many varieties available that it is not hard to put together a unique selection that works for you. I’m fortunate in that my garden sits against a backdrop of natural woodland and the mixed tulips give a lovely pop of colour in front of beech hedges that blend seamlessly into the background. Their recent appearance reminds me that we are well through spring, and summer is only around the corner.

Wild flowers also carry us through the seasons. From the first dandelions and primroses to buttercups and daisies, the natural world is coming back to life.

Leaves are finally starting to burst forth in our hedgerows and birds are in full song as they try to impress potential mates.

People are on the move too. It was great to see so many visitors here in Donegal over the Easter holidays, and hopefully this bodes well for the season ahead. 

Our natural rhythm is very much that of nature, and as everything comes back to life, people are getting out for walks, beginning jobs such as painting, and even starting to feel more sociable.

If there is a project or activity that you’ve been putting on the long finger, this is a great time of year to start a new challenge.

And while spring may be happening in fits and starts this year, it is still lovely to feel that energy in the air. Here’s to brighter days and new adventures in the months to come.