Just opening for spring

This is Daphne mezereon, one of the rare shrubs found in a couple of our Chilterns nature reserves. This one had just a handful of flowers open today when I called in to check it. It likes chalky soils, just like its close relative Daphne laureola, but has very different habits. D. laureola, or Spurge Laurel, displays striking shiny evergreen leaves through the winter and can open its closely-packed greeny-yellow flowers soon after Christmas. D. mezereon flowers later, its gorgeous pink flowers appearing in clusters on completely leafless stems. It is very fragrant, but has very poisonous berries. Does it mean spring has arrived? I'm still not convinced.

I'm so annoyed I failed to spot the strands of Hebridean sheep wool on this sprig - not only does it marr the photograph, it also means the sheep have been managing to reach over the protective wire netting!