Daffodils began blooming back in mid-December, way ahead of schedule. Most are of cultivated varieties as the original smaller wild daffodil, now very scarce is protected by law and it is forbidden to dig up the bulbs.

After Christmas I purchase, so cheaply nowadays, a succession to display in vases and brighten up dull winter days.

Snowdrops, also called snow piercers in country locations are also in full flower and a joy to behold. They are pollinated by early bees.

However, butterflies with their coiled watch-spring probocis find difficulty accessing nectar from below the nodding flower heads so I was thrilled to photograph this rare sight of a red admiral among the snowdrops one morning in the Cotswolds.

I prefer the small wild variety to the taller rather blowsy cultivated plants. Botanists cannot agree as to whether or not snowdrops are native to Britain. It is thought that they were probably introduced centuries ago from the Middle East and are now widely naturalised.

A similar flower but much taller with small round bell-like blooms is the snowflake, growing in damp meadows or woodland margins and seen from February.

Another late winter species is colt’s foot with small multi-petalled sulphur yellow flowers and a vital nectar plant for any insect foolish enough to venture out on sunny but cold days.

The plant’s habit of flowering before the hoof-shaped leaves has earned it the alternative title of ‘son before father.’ We can now look forward to crocus (already flowering), primroses, wood anemones, and golden-yellow lesser celandine, poet Wordsworth’s favourite flower and many more provided the weather remains favourable.