In broad terms it takes around eight weeks for Spring to move from Southern England to the North of Scotland - roughly walking pace.

In my garden the daffodils are just starting to come through the soil, so it will be a few weeks yet before it looks like Spring. The buds on my Camellias are usually the first to open, accompanied by the Magnolia - neither of them are looking like it just yet.

One of our gardeners has had all his Daffodils out for a week already - Ayr in S W Scotland

"crocuses (crocii?)"

I think the modern plural term is now OK, especially when some years ago the Queen referenced 'stadiums' in a speech. If it comes from her mouth, it's official Queens English.

My first Crocus has shown a petal this morning and the mini Irises are well under way. I have about a dozen terracotta planters with a few hundred spring bulbs every year giving about 6 weeks worth of spring has sprung. To me, they're the first feelgood factor heralding the end of winter.

SimpleSimon1

'being shipped up-country'

I hope the recipients know what they are getting.

Last year Chinese supermarkets in Bristol were selling bunches of daffodils with unopened buds and some people bought them as chives.

10 people needed hospital treatment.

I never found out if this was the customers making mistakes or whether a wholesaler supplying the shops got it wrong.

BBC report here.