Signs of spring . . . .

After the awful weather yesterday and last night, today was brighter and a lot drier. In the back garden I spied this Rosa rugosa, just starting to wake up after its winter rest. It looked so bright and fresh and helped me feel abit more optimistic that spring was on its way!

It's about the only rose that I can grow in my very exposed garden, but it forms a good thick hedge and has lovely very short lived flowers in the late summer. Also has very vicious thorns - as you can see!