THERE'S a sign in Alison Pringle's office that says 'winter's coming'. Looking out the window it's not wrong. This may be spring but that's no April shower falling on Museum Gardens; it's snow, lots of it.

Just five months in and 2016 is already the most bizarre of years. We have lost some of the biggest names in music and show biz, we've just come out of the warmest and second wettest winter since records began and what about last week where temperatures plummeted to January levels.

This mad weather is in stark contrast to the Met Office's forecast last autumn that Britain would face the coldest winter in history, still more to its prediction that this will be the hottest year on record thanks to the largest El Nino event ever to hit.

Try telling that to the birds who are eating more to stay warm, or flowers that don't have the foggiest whether they're coming or going. In Museum Gardens late daffodils are weeks too early and early tulips are weeks too late. Fledglings fled the nest thanks to the warm spell in March, today's new borns are having second thoughts.

"Everyone's confused, plants, animals, insects and gardeners," says Alison. "It has been a very topsy turvy year. We had roses and lavender flowering all winter and when we did our plant count on March 1 there were 106 different varieties. Last year it was 85. Irises and crocuses came out three weeks early, now the Arctic is really warm and we're really cold. Everything is mixed up."

York Press:

Museum Gardens manager Alison Pringle with late-blooming 'early' tulips

But Alison says variations in temperature are less harmful than water, which damages the soil structure. Museum Gardens were flooded this winter, fortunately not for a prolonged period. Anything longer than a week and plants start to suffer because air in the soil is replaced by water, so they literally suffocate.

"What's really damaging is a lengthy spell of warm weather followed by severe frosts," says Alison. "That kills the shoots and has a detrimental affect on fruit crops, especially plums and cherries."

Luckily that's not the case this year.

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Cherry blossom in Museum Gardens

It's not just the vegetation that's having to adapt. Museum Gardens is home to an amazing variety of birds. Woodpeckers visit, tree creepers nest, goldcrests and long tailed tits too.

Another sign in Alison's office lists what's been spotted, where and when this month. Already there are sparrowhawks up there, peregrine falcons, even a kingfisher.

"I was the one who spotted it," says Alison. "That's the first time I've ever seen one. I couldn't believe my eyes, just a flash of blue and a great big pointy beak. It was amazing."

The sign also notes that Tansy Beetles were spotted on March 15, which Alison says is incredibly early. But what's the betting they're now ruing that idea. The rare creature is only found at one location in the UK along the Ouse near York and there is a special breeding area for them in Museum Gardens.

"This is a wonderful time in any English garden," says Alison. "The colours are fresh and bright, with a vibrancy you don't get in summer when everything looks dusty and dry.

"I would encourage people to explore bits they don't normally go to. Get away from that middle path, go towards the river or up to the pavilion."

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Fern croziers in Museum Gardens

Or across to the walkway between King's Manor and the Multangular Tower, where ferns are beginning to unfurl their new fronds. Croziers, they're called, because they look like a Bishop's staff.

"There's a fascinating texture and pattern to them and there's other stuff popping out all of the time," says Alison. "Everything's mixed up, either early or, weirdly, late. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the next month."