A bee collects nectar and pollen from one of crocuses in the gardens of the National Trust's Ham House in London, where milder temperatures have coaxed 120,000 Ruby Giant crocuses into bloom, creating a sea of purple on the lawn. On Monday Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while outlining the steps out of lockdown, said: "The crocus of hope is poking through the frost and spring is on its way both literally and metaphorically". Picture date: Tuesday February 23, 2021.