Clematis buds

The clematis plants we have have mostly been persuaded that it's time to wake up, and this one, near the house, is the most advanced at the moment. Clematis always look so dried-up over winter that it almost seems a miracle when they burst into growth afresh each spring. This is an early flowering variety and will be looking a picture in a few weeks' time.

Gentle rain has arrived today, and looks set to be here for a week or two, which won't be a bad thing given the dryness of February. Better to have a good balance of conditions to maintain a diverse environment.