As ever at this time of year I am surprised at how much is flowering in the garden despite it looking bare. But its a case of bending down and peering rather than being overwhelmed by masses of flowers.
The little group of crocus, I would love to know which ones they are, had only just opened after a couple of weeks of extreme cold and then this morning I noticed they were already over. I am so glad I took the photograph on Sunday.
The snowdrops are just beginning to open as you can see from this frosty example. It will be nice to see them open properly and hopefully with a few more days of sunshine they will be at their best.
My Hamamelis Pallida is flowering really well considering it was only planted just under a year ago and I spent the year worrying that it would take as there was so little rain but it seems to be fine and no doubt next year it will be even better. This was my birthday present to myself last year, this year I think it will be a Sorbus tree.
You can see how frozen my Eranthis got. They are now defrosted but sadly my comings and goings during the week are when the light is too poor for photographs. On a side note I am thrilled to have germinated the seed of these, they only took a year to germinate – who said I wasnt patient.
Finally on the back fence there is a splash of colour from the Chaenomeles. It was moved last year and I am hoping that in this new, and better, location it will thrive and flower more profusely.
There are some primulas in flower, a daffodil about the open and hellebores with tight buds so hopefully next month there will be more to show.
For more GBBD posts visit
What a beautiful colour your Chaenomeles is. You are indeed a Patient gardener growing Eranthis from seed !
K
also have tulips growing from seed, being growing for 3 years now
What lovely Crocusses! We only have the purple variety. Never seen that one.
No sign of my winter aconites yet – impressed by the amount of flowers that you have.
Nice to have some colour returning again. That crocus pic is just so sweet!
amazing eranthis Helen!
Lovely spring colours!
Very interested in some advice re waiting patiently for germination of seeds. I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for some sign of Meconopsis seeds to germinate but nothing to show so far. I’ve done the in/out of the fridge to get the right temperature stuff but there’s absolutely nothing showing – did you have to ‘do’ anything to help your Eranthis seeds on their way? Or is it really just a case of being a good and ‘patient’ gardener and leaving them alone to get on with their thing? Sometimes I think I could be ‘fussing’ my poor little seeds/plants to death…some advice please!
Hi Donna – I have tried Meconopsis once and failed. I think they are hard to germinate. The Eranthis were sown last year and then the pot left outside and forgotten about. I think they needed a cold spell to break the dormancy. I am quite neglectful so maybe that is the key
That is really a pretty crocus. Love the color. Even with the snow, you have some little troopers there. Happy GBBD!
Beautiful late-winter blooms Helen! Congratulations on your Eranthis seedlings, and the patience it took waiting for them to emerge. Happy Bloom Day!
Hi Helen, I think I know the name of your crocus, Crocus chrysanthus ‘Goldilocks’ because I have them. I’m going to post a photo this morning in a bit. See if you think so. Beautiful photos.~~Dee
Hi Dee – have looked it up on google images and you could well be right although I would have thought I would remember Goldilocks as people’s names are few flower names I can remember if you see what I mean
Very pretty! I love that crocus – reminds me of tiger’s eye gemstone! Everything looks so pretty blooming in the snow.
Pretty pretty! Good for you for growing your aconites.
The ones I bought as ‘Goldilocks’ are not so striped… perhaps I have something else! Hmm… always a mystery.
Your Eranthis is beautiful, even if a little frozen.
I am thrilled with any bloom after we had an Arctic blast blow through. Love the Chaenomeles and the witch hazel. Happy GBBD
Just beautiful with all the blooms even with the coating of snow…
What lovely little surprises amongst the cold. Winter sweet is quite rare here in Auckland, likes the cold. I spoke to two very white kids at my swimming bay the other day, they come from Lincoln way. The boy said he had his ‘winter skin on’. I warned him that you can get bunt in 10 min here!!
You are indeed a Patient gardener growing Eranthis from seed Helen, I’d have emptied the pot or tray long before that! I’m glad you managed to enjoy your crocus for a while, I’m not going to plant any more as I think they don’t flower for long enough, I haven’t seen any of mine this year, they may still be buried under the snow. Christina
What a lovely Chaenomeles. I like the idea of buying plants as birthday presents to yourself, I think I may have to adopt it.
How delightfully cheerful to see those bright blooms pushing up through the snow! Can’t wait.
lovely pics, so happy to see crocusses again…I’m now waiting for spring!
Which Sorbus are you going to buy for yourself this year Helen? Thats my must have tree for my wildlife garden (when i eventually get my own garden!) – are you going for red, orange, white or pink berries?
Hi Owen – want pink berries, got one with red berries. Like November Pink, hoping to get in next couple of weeks from local nursery
I am super jealous of your Hamamelis…such a gorgeous plant…winter blooms and gorgeous fall foliage…can’t beat that!
I’m glad someone else is getting snow ~ makes me feel like we’re not getting singled out!! Although you have so much more in bloom than I do here. It looks lovely. I bought some yellow with brown stripes crocus this past fall (now can’t find the tag) but I think they had a different name? I hope I can find it before mine open.
You ARE the queen of patience! Anybody that can wait a year for a seed to germinate is amazing. It was worth the wait. Look how pretty. Those sprout bags look cool too (from your previous post.)
I love the crocus. What a fabulous, subtle colour. I had been hoping my winter aconites were just hiding but looking at yours, they clearly should be visible by now. Drat. Must have failed to take.
Lovely photos Helen. I’m all for buying birthday presents for yourself. You’ll always get what you want. I do it myself when P hasn’t picked up he heavy hints!