Pulmonaria

Today's the day ......................... to flower

Along with the snowdrops, this is one of the first flowers that you see in the garden.

Its posh name is Pulmonaria officinalis  which comes from the latin pulmoa meaning lung - and it has been used since the Middle Ages to treat coughs and diseases of the chest.  I always wonder how they discovered that in the first place?  It has distinctive flowers that start off pink and then eventually change to blue.  In spite of their fragile, papery appearance, they don't seem to be bothered by hard frosts.

Admittedly, this one does look a bit waterlogged after a heavy shower of rain that we had this morning - but it will soon shrug that off and continue to be the welcome hint of spring to come, that it undoubtedly is .......................