Flowers in February depend largely on the weather. Our weather so far this month has been very mixed, a bit of rain, a bit of sun, a lot of frosty nights and freezing days, fog, bitterly cold wind from Scandinavia and Russia (we are now making up for it this week, now that the wind has swung round and now comes from Africa!) and the other day a sprinkling of snow. In spite of all this, the flowers manage to survive and open their petals to any passing bee, and there are quite a lot of bees flying around.
Iris reticulata.
Looking beautiful on the alpine scree.
These are more purple in real life, either George or Edward. I bought both but can’t remember which is which!
This is the correct colour for this one, again, either George or Edward.
Iris reticulata and crocus are also starting to open in the old tin baby bath.
The ones in the woodland are still waiting to flower, but at least they have survived last winter on the little slope at the end, thankfully the drainage must be good enough, which means I can buy more for that spot!
Iris unguicularis by the dining room window, I’ve never known so many flowers before, it has been wonderful this year.
Iris unguicularis Walter Butt on the front drive.
The first Crocus tommasinianus to flower in the woodland.
Soon there will be a lot more flowering.
Cyclamen coum in the woodland.
Two varieties of Narcissus in the woodland.
They make a nice splash of sunshine when it is a dull day, like today.
The all yellow ones are Rijnveld’s Early Sensation, which have been out since the New Year.
I can’t quite remember the name of this one. I think it may have something to do with a Queen Ann, I must look it up.
Chaenomeles still flowering by the back door in spite of all the frost.
Having just done a post about the hellebores, I will just include one flower to represent the rest.
G. Wendy’s Gold opened up in the sunshine the other day and showed her lovely golden inner markings.
A large clump of G. Magnet which must be split and spread around this year, I keep meaning to do it, but forget!
Snowdrop hill looking quite pretty at the moment, but it will be even better when the iris and narcissus start flowering in this area.
The large Camellia bush in the corner of the garden is covered in flowers.
This is always the first Camellia to flower here, the others are still in bud.
At last, but still struggling, Hamamelis Arnold Promise definitely needs to be moved.
Daphne boluha perfuming the air in the woodland. It has been flowering for some time now.
I must take cuttings of this white heather, it is past it’s best and getting too woody.
This purple one is fine though and goes from strength to strength.
Wild Primrose by the front drive. They are the usual primrose yellow colour but have photographed almost white, don’t know why!
Little Leucojum vernum, the Spring Snowflake, with two flowers to one stalk.
This Hellebore wasn’t open the other day when I did my Hellebore post, so I had to add it here as I think it is so beautiful in its simplicity.
It has a very thin line of purple colour round the edge of the almost white sepals. The centre is the same purple, it is perfect!
The backs of the sepals have beautiful purple veins.
Simply stunning, I love it!
This hellebore was bought last year when we visited the nursery holding the National Collection of Hellebores on a trip up north. The 3 plants that I bought are all looking very healthy and happy where I’ve put them, I look forward to them increasing over the years.
This is my offering for GBBD for February, my thanks go to Carol at May Dreams Garden for hosting this meme each month, please pay her a visit to see other flowers from around the world.
Oh this is a bonanza Pauline – how lovely! And your first crocus too! That new hellebore is a very gracious lady ☺
Thanks Cathy, it’s all starting again isn’t it! I love the hellebore, to me it just seems so beautiful in it’s simplicity.
Fabulous Pauline. It’s such an exciting time of year. We do share a lot of the same plants but your daffs are way ahead of mine. I spotted one single bloom open whilst I was out today and that is it so far! Plenty of buds to come though.
I agree Jessica, a very exciting time. The daffs are early varieties, but I’ve started seeing them in other gardens now, so maybe the other varieties are catching up.
It’s so nice to see your snowdrops clumping up so well and making an impressive show in the garden. You are starting to put together a nice collection there an I love the ones you have so far. Magnet has done well on this side of the Atlantic as well, but it will still be a few years before I can match that clump 😉
Love the detail on your hellebore.
I think Frank, the snowdrops have done so much better since I started giving them a mulch of leaf mould each year. This means of course that I’m going to have to split them more frequently!
I love all the blooms in your garden, thanks for sharing them with us for bloom day!
Thank you Carol, so kind of you to stop by and leave a message. I look forward to Bloom Day each month, thanks for hosting it each time.
Wow you have a lot of beautiful blooms in your garden at this time of year! Especially the purple ones!
Greetings, Sofie #26
http://sofiecreates.blogspot.be/2017/02/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-february-2017.html
Many thanks Sofie, glad you like them. The little Iris are very special, so pretty at this time of year. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a message.
Oh yesm the Hellebore is lovely. I love flowers with a picotee edge like that. I really should order some Iris reticulata this year. I’ve grown them in the past in a previous garden, and they’re always so cheerful and colorful in the early spring.
It is rather gorgeous isn’t it Alison, I’m so glad you like it too! The Iris reticulata are increasing year on year and make a lovely splash of colour amongst all the snowdrops, must buy more!
Springs sings in your garden Pauline. Your clumps of snowdrops are really showing themselves to advantage, your conditions must suit them perfectly. I agree with you about the understated beauty of the Hellebore, perfect. Enjoy spring!
I think the snowdrops are enjoying the mulch of leaf mould I give them every year Christina, since doing that, they have improved enormously. I feel with Hellebores, that sometimes less is more,the doubles and spotted ones are lovely but sometimes the singles are more beautiful.
What a lovely selection of photos Pauline. The colours of the irises, both the reticulata and the unguicularis, are beautiful. And I do love the hellebores! It all makes me long for spring….
Thank you Denise, the iris do add a lovely splash of colour amongst all the snowdrops, it’s nice to see them at this time of year. Spring isn’t far away, it will get to you soon!
So many lovely, lovely blooms, Pauline! I agree with you – that last Hellebore is marvelous. I love everything about it!
Thanks Anna, I’m so glad you like the Hellebore, she looks so elegant!
You really do have a bonanza of blooms! I love all the Irises and the Wild Primrose. Here the first of the Snowdrops are only just getting ready to bloom.
My first snowdrops are just finishing Jason, they have been flowering since the beginning of January. The little Iris just get better each year and the primrose are spreading without any help from me which is nice.