Before you look down, look up!

meaning, don’t expect your seeds to romp away when the weather remains unseasonably cold; a pertinent italian saying that I saw on the Franchi Seeds website (take a look, great seeds, informative and a good narrative), run by a cheerful Italian accordian player, now that’s a painting waiting to happen!

So... instead of harumphing at the passivity of my tomato seedlings, I had a mooch outside. Fur collar turned firmly up against the cold and ignoring the odd snowflake, I scoured the garden for signs of spring.

I found lambs tails quivering on the hazel, 

pink silk rosettes clipped to the prunus, 

and velveteen pom-poms stippled on the willow.