As winter loosens its grip, there are gentle but unmistakable signs that spring is on its way to Nun’s Cross. Even on cooler days, the garden and pond are beginning to stir with new life.
Frogs and Frogspawn in the Pond
One of the most exciting early signs of the season is the return of frogs to the pond. Almost overnight, clusters of frogspawn appeared, floating like glistening beads just beneath the water’s surface. These were noticed by the children on 12th February., and the excitement was palpable. These jelly-like masses contain hundreds of tiny eggs, each with the promise of new life.
The arrival of frogs and their eggs is a sure sign that temperatures are rising. Over the coming weeks, these eggs will hatch into tadpoles, bringing movement and energy back to the pond after the stillness of winter. It’s always a joy to spot them on a quiet morning walk.
Crocus Bringing Early Colour
Across the lawns and borders, crocus are beginning to bloom. Their delicate petals – in shades of purple, white, and yellow – push bravely through the cold ground, often appearing while frost still lingers in shaded corners.
Crocus are among the very first flowers to open each year, providing a welcome splash of colour and an important early source of nectar for bees emerging from hibernation. Seeing them dotted across the grounds is a cheerful reminder that brighter days are ahead.
Bulbs Pushing Through
Elsewhere in the beds and borders, bulbs are steadily emerging. The pointed green shoots of daffodils, tulips, and other spring favourites are now clearly visible, standing a little taller each day. Though their flowers are still to come, their appearance alone lifts the spirit.
There’s something quietly reassuring about these first shoots. Planted months ago in the darker days of autumn, they now signal renewal, growth, and the turning of the seasons.
Spring at Nun’s Cross doesn’t arrive all at once. It reveals itself gradually – in the ripple of a pond stirred by frogs, in the brightness of a crocus, and in the steady rise of green shoots from the soil. Each small sign reminds us that warmer, lighter days are on their way.
