On Monday, our first named storm of the winter arrived, Brendan was roaring through my trees, trying to create havoc, a wander through the woodland to see if any damage has been done will be necessary as soon as I have had my breakfast. Fortunately it was a lovely sunny day on Sunday and I was able to get out and photograph the flowers that were enjoying the calm before the storm.

Snowdrops are popping up everywhere now, this one is Angelique which is on the rockery, but I think needs replanting as the bulbs are starting to push up out of the ground.

Iris reticulata Pauline on the alpine scree. One minute she isn’t there and the next she is suddenly flowering away

Cyclamen coum are now popping up in the woodland and borders in the back garden. They are slowly spreading, I think I ought to sow the seed myself as I don’t think the ants are busy at this time of year.

The camellia next to the previous two plants has gone into overdrive, it is a large shrub now and is just covered with blooms.

When going into the woodland the first flower to catch your eye is Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation. Normally out by Christmas Day but not this time, not even New Year but January 3rd was when the flower bud actually opened. Better late than never.

G. Betty Hansell, the book says when it is happy it produces 2 flowers per stem, she is still very new, just 2 yrs old.

Daphne odora now open for business, perfuming the woodland, when the wind is from the west, it is a wonderful place to be.
I must venture out soon and see if there is any damage after the storm, hopefully it will just be thin little branches down in the woodland and no damage to my brave little flowers! We are coming up to my favourite time of year in the garden when everything wakes up again and pushes up through the earth to start the gardening year once more. so many jobs to do getting ready for all the woodland bulbs, will I be ready in time?
I am linking this post with Carol at May Dreams Gardens, do pay her a visit to see what else is flowering around the world for January’s Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
I love your hellebores Pauline….and the snowdrops …..and the primulas lol! I hope they have all survived Brendan who, I think, is now on his way here!
Brendan hasn’t finished with us yet Denise, his tail end is still howling around outside and it is pouring down, sorry if he comes to you! I haven’t been able to check on anything so far but I’m sure the flowers will cope, they usually do!
Hope Brendan did not cause any trouble Pauline. Galanthus Little John is striking and your Iris reticulata are gorgeous, especially your Pauline’s rich color.
I hope I will be able to check for damage tomorrow Susie, hopefully everything will be ok. I am very fond of early flowering Little John, it is a large snowdrop, a lot larger than most and of course Iris reticulata Pauline is very special and such a lovely deep colour.
I love to see all your plants that bloom in the midst of winter and despite the storms. Iris reticulata Pauline is especially beautiful (named after you, of course!). And the long tassels of Garrya eliptica are wonderful. This is a shrub I have not seen in my part of the world. I love it! Your garden has always been one of my favorites in the blogosphere, and I am looking forward to your future posts in 2020. Happy New Year, Pauline!
Not much damage at all Deb, I’m glad to say, just a few small branches off the ancient trees and only the narcissus got squashed a bit. Thank you for your lovely comment about my blog, I think we both like each others woodland gardens a lot, so many lovely little woodland plants that wouldn’t survive in ornamental gardens. Happy New Year to you Deb, I hope it will be a good one for you!
There’s a LOT going on in your garden in January, Pauline. I love the vivid Iris reticulata but I’m most envious of the Garrya elliptica, which is supposed to grow in my part of the world but thus far has stubbornly refused to do so.
Thank you Kris, I think our mild winter so far has brought all the flowers out. I’ve looked up Garrya elliptica as according to my book it isn’t fully hardy, although it manages -10 C some years in the garden here. My plant was here before we moved here 30 yrs ago!
Stunning blooms…star of your post is Chaenomeles speciosa …is it hardy in your region.Loved the snowdrops,Irises,Primroses..mine will take a month to bloom.Happy Bloggers blooms day.
The chaenomeles is certainly hardy here Arun,the plant is over 30 yrs old and was here before we were, we quite often have freezing temperatures here and it just keeps on flowering.
Glorious blooms, Pauline, and how lovely to have such good size clumps of your special snowdrops – some take such a long time to bulk up
Thanks Cathy, the snowdrops are standing up well to the frosty nights and mornings. I just tend to just buy snowdrops that are described as bulking up quickly!
Oh….those snowdrops….sighs! I do hope you don’t come across any damage, we had a silver birch uprooted, thankfully it was already dead.xxx
The snowdrops are fine thanks Dina! I just found lots of small branches down, nothing serious like your silver birch.