First daffodil

I think spring might be just around the corner.  The weather has been slightly less horrible this past week.  We've had some sunshine, and although the temperature hasn't been what you could call warm, it's been mild enough to sit out in the sun for brief periods.

Yesterday I saw catkins for the first time, on the trees by the banks of Mill Beck.

And now the first daffodil has burst into a glorious blaze of yellow in the back garden.  It's only a miniature one so the flower is very small, but manages to look cheerful and utterly defiant in the face of morning frosts and a keen wind.  Daffodils are my favourite flowers for just that reason.  It's lovely to see them shouting their wares from the tattered winter flower-beds again.