There's a term used in the study of bird migration called Zugunruhe. Translated from the German, it means the restlessness ('unruhe') as birds prepare for their seasonal travels ('Zug'). They effectively get jittery, impatient.
I'm wondering whether therefore I've got Fruhlingunruhe. If my made-up German is correct, it would mean a restlessness as I prepare for Spring. Out in the garden this weekend, I was just willing things to grow and bloom, and for butterflies and bees to emerge.
But maybe I should contain my impatience for I've still got loads to get done before Spring arrives.
For example, this weekend the job list included:
And with all that done, I stopped to enjoy the subtle beauty of this little trio.
Most prominent is Arum italicum pictum with its marbled leaves. I grow it in part for its red berries later in the year for the Blackbirds, in part just for the drama of all that pattern.
In the middle of them is a limey-leaved Heuchera, which will provide some bee nectar later in the season.
And behind it the purpurea version of our native Wood Spurge, Euphorbia amygdaloides. I'm not sure yet what value it is bringing to wildlife in my garden but I'm giving it a chance!
It's the kind of little aesthetic moment that would get quite eclipsed once Spring is fully underway, but it's things like this in the winter garden that make my Fruhlingunruhe feel not so bad after all.
It is not that far away, there have been bees about for a while and today I saw my first butterfly (Red Admiral). The birds are busy gathering nesting material too.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised by your Euphorbia, I have many different, cultivated varieties and all are loved by the bees. I was watching two fat queen bees feeding on Euphorbia at the garden centre today. It might make a difference if it is planted in full shade. I have noticed that my bees and hoverflies prefer to dine in the sun. A plant in the sun will be covered where as the same plant in the shade will have no visitors. I don’t know if it is because a plant in the shade produces less nectar or whether insects prefer the sun.