First signs? We dare to hope!
I just looked back at my 6WS for this weekend last year, and sure enough, it was full of crocuses (or even, crocii?). It’s been pretty miserable here the last week or so, but the flowers don’t seem to have noticed. A garden just around the corner produces the most beautiful tiny deep purple iris each Spring, but you have to be quick- they only last a few of days.
Purple iris
I thought we might take a stroll through some Portuguese countryside to get us in the mood? It arrives a little earlier there.
First we’ll cross a shallow ford
A pause to capture these. Sorry, but I don’t know their name.
A mother and her lamb view us with some caution
And then the hamlet of Malhada do Peres, enhanced by the almond blossom
Beautiful in close-up
The river bed is pretty dry, even this early
Then there’s this little jewel- a wild orchid
Obviously bird lovers live here (or builders!)
I’ve never seen these fruit on a cactus, either
All in all, a treasure trove, I think you’ll agree? What does Spring herald in your part of the world?
As usual, I’m sharing my Six word Saturday, courtesy of our kind hostess Cate, on Show My Face. Click on the header or links to join in or view the other entries. You know you want to!
restlessjo 
It’s so GREEN and COLOURFUL over there! Amazing phots, Jo! What a delightful post! Definitely wish I was able to see these photos last week when it was gloomy!
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Still pretty gloomy this one, Zoe. Spring forecast END of April! What have you done to our weather?
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What I would give to be in any of the scenes you have displayed here 🙂 Jo, this fruit on cactus is called prickly pear. When I was on Malta, a friend bought me its liquor :). It is so delicious!!!
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Me too, Paula. If it hadn’t been for Lisa’s wedding I could have been very tempted not to come back. A friend on Gibraltar has described the fruits as “Chumbos” but I’ve never heard this expression or tasted the fruit.
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I hope you’ll have the opportunity to taste it … it is great as juice and liqueur 🙂
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Hi Jo, I live in Southeast USA and we are currently enjoying blooming azaleas, dogwood trees, redbud trees, Indian Hawthorne, Chinese Fringe, and tulip magnolias. It’s my favorite time of year, but my allergies are complaining! LOL. Thanks for the lovely photos. ~Terri
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Oh, I love magnolias, azaleas, rhodies and all those showy plants! We seem to be sliding back into Winter here. I am so not amused!
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It’s looking very spring already from your side of the continent, Jo. We sure had a glimpse of spring yesterday but the forecast is not good with winter re-visiting this weekend with ice and snow expectation. Hmmm…I’m getting tired of the winter already. 😉
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Me too, Malou! It’s the same here. Those photos were from the week I spent in the Algarve in late January- a distant memory! My daughter’s wedding was a lovely bright spot in February but it’s back to fog and mud now.
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We’ve got a daffodil or two just peeking through – reminding me I have to go and sort out the garden as there’s a wall the rebuild before I can start planting for this year. So nice to have a couple of sunny days and actually get out into the garden at last!
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It can’t make its mind up here, Luce. It’s back to freezing fog at the minute. Not sure if I should be hibernating, or what!
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Nature creates the most priceless and beautiful of jewels which today you shared generously. Thanks.
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It was another lovely stroll, and I do like a bit of company on my walks. Many thanks for supplying it!
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Those yellow pom poms are glorious, as also the cacti fruit. Happy for you that the weather is thawing Jo 🙂
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I’m told they are Acacia, Madhu. Spring was here in north east England yesterday. It’s gone again today, but I’m hopeful.
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Beautiful photography Jo ,Your cactus fruit looks great they call it dragon apple here 🙂
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Prickly pear in England, Jake. I’ve never tasted the fruit, but maybe someday? Thank you!
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Gorgeous photos Jo. I really enjoyed those.
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It was a wonderful walk too, Colin. Spring arrived here yesterday, but it didn’t stay.
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The almond blossom is so pretty – I don’t think I’ve ever seen it up close before 🙂
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I nearly fell over the ridge capturing that, Suze, so glad you’re appreciative!
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It is snowing as I write this…I’m definitely looking forward to spring. I enjoyed your photos.
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You can definitely have too much of a good thing, Karen! Thanks, hon. We’re back to grim and grey here today after a quick flourish of Spring, yesterday.
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Thanks for the tour around ‘your’ Portugal 🙂
It looks so welcoming, I love the river bed pic, I can almost feel the sun on my back as I imagine sitting under the tree with a picnic.:-)
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We met a lovely couple on the walk, Vicky. The place was deserted so we stopped to exchange a few words, and we stood there, with “the sun on our backs” for ages. It was such a nice day!
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