First day of Spring

A splash of sunshine and warmth finally descends upon London. A whole palette of lush greens, vibrant yellows, piercing magentas and their more subtle cousins become wonderfully visible.

I soaked this up in Hammersmith Park, west London, a small neighbourhood oasis which sits behind BBC Television Centre. People had turned out at lunchtime to catch the mood, some of them more grizzled types with cans of lager in their hand. But it was good-natured and a moment of joy after months in the gloom.

Click first image to launch the gallery

This has been the first – and only – day of Spring so far. The following morning, the clear skies were obscured in cloud and the colour scheme had shrunk away. A wintry cold has taken hold again, and there is even talk of snow. You have to grasp it when you can…

From Spring to winter: you can look at a gallery of cold weather photography here.

Tags: florals, Hammersmith Park, London, monochrome, nature, photography, Spring

19 thoughts on “First day of Spring”

Noeline Smith on March 11, 2013 at 18:15 said:

Lovely bright touch of spring – which obviously arrives earlier in London than out in the sticks!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 11, 2013 at 18:34 said:
  
  Thank you Noeline. Oh how quickly it evaporated! I’ve rarely felt colder today.
  
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  - Noeline Smith on March 12, 2013 at 09:54 said:
    
    …… and our boiler chose last night to break down! It’s FREEEEEEZING!!
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on March 12, 2013 at 18:15 said:
      
      Oh no! It’s always the way. I hope it returns to life very soon.
      
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sliceoflondonlife on March 10, 2013 at 23:36 said:

I’m surprised that any of the crocuses or blossom are out. Lovely photos. I can’t wait for spring to get here properly – I love flower photography.

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 23:40 said:
  
  Thank you. Yes, I’m not quite sure how they managed it. Hopefully the return to wintry weather is a mere blip.
  
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destinationsbymv on March 10, 2013 at 22:26 said:

Awesome shots. Looking forward to these kinds of scenes in Pennsylvania in another few weeks.

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 22:37 said:
  
  Thanks! Well we’re getting some more snow and freezing temperatures. Beginning to think I dreamed the whole thing!
  
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ckponderings on March 10, 2013 at 18:42 said:

Great shot, great colours and, with more snow on the way, it’s nice to have a reminder of warmer times ahead! :)

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 19:15 said:
  
  Thanks Richard, I quite agree. It’s hard to believe I was crouching about in the grass just a few days ago with the sun on my back!
  
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Ella Rychlewski on March 10, 2013 at 18:12 said:

Lovely, an antidote to the snow falling outside my window… you said something about Spring? ;)

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 18:33 said:
  
  Thank you Ella! Well, that was an anomaly earlier this week… now it’s freezing once again :-/
  
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  - Ella Rychlewski on March 10, 2013 at 18:58 said:
    
    that it is! oh well…
    
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mjculverphotography on March 10, 2013 at 13:10 said:

Lovely that you’re getting some sunshine Mike and very pretty images to commemorate this event. Hooray for warmer temperatures. Enjoy your Sunday (emphasis on “sun”).

Joey

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 13:20 said:
  
  Cheers Joey! Unfortunately that was all but a moment earlier in the week. Have just been out and it’s red raw cold, raining a little and dull as can be!
  
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oneowner on March 10, 2013 at 11:56 said:

I love the photos but I’m a bit confused, Mike. The first day of Spring is the 20th here in the States (and everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere I thought. Are these from another year?

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 12:31 said:
  
  This is the first day when we experienced sunshine and a temperature of more than 10C here in London, so nothing to do with dates or the “official” start of Spring as such!
  
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Cos on March 10, 2013 at 10:09 said:

Just one day of spring and yet the flowers are that beautiful! Nice photos!

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- mikeosbornphoto on March 10, 2013 at 10:31 said:
  
  Thank you Cos! I think they’d managed to struggle through already, but they were particularly happy that day!
  
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