No, not me, I’m still safely tucked up at home, I mean my first narcissus, Rijnveld’s Early Sensation which has always been out by Christmas Day in previous years. This time though it was still in tight bud by the end of the year and has only just opened now. It is strange that it is late when most of the special snowdrops are early.
Looking very cheerful in the woodland at the moment, N. Rijnveld’s Early Sensation.
I have to admit I prefer a softer yellow in my narcissus, but as it’s the first, it is very welcome.
I’m pleased to see so many buds forming, in previous years there has only been one or two on each clump, it looks as though I’m going to have a lot more flowers this year.
Lots of colour is starting to show in the garden, here we have a deep magenta Cyclamen coum.
A paler variety lives happily in the woodland.
Hellebores are also joining in, buds are everywhere, it won’t be long before they are all out flowering.
This one has been flowering since before Christmas and still has lots of buds to open.
More and more snowdrops are opening in the back garden and the woodland, they seem to grow visibly each day. It just needs to be a couple of degrees warmer and they will open up.
Lots of snowdrops popping up everywhere, soon the drifts will be open.
G. Little John has been flowering for a long time now, this is a lovely tall one, twice the size of Robin Hood!
I have been so busy lately working in the woodland, getting ready for Snowdrop Time. My visitors from the village won’t be able to come but I will do a virtual tour for them via my blog. Normally I have help from my gardener getting everything ready but my present gardener has taken two months holiday, he normally goes to New Zealand for 2 months each Jan and Feb, but even though he can’t travel at the moment, he has still taken the time off and left me to it ! No, I’m not pleased but think I will have everything done just in time.
All the bulbs and flowers bring me out into the garden each day to see what has popped its head up overnight, thank goodness I have to garden to keep me sane during lockdown. I hope you are all coping, please all stay safe.
Thanks for the great pictures. What growing zone are you in?
Thanks for commenting Bill. We don’t have zones where I live, I am in the south of the UK which doesn’t often have harsh winters.
My first thoughts were that you were able to go outside into the garden (or, perish the thought, out of hospital), so I am thankful it was neither of those and that you have indeed been able to enjoy your garden as much as ever. It seems strange having a narcissus out in January – although even more so at Christmas! – but it is just doing its own thing, along with all your other winter lovelies. It’s good to see photos of many of them – and what lovely big clumps of snowdrop specials you have!!
I would have been lost without my garden Cathy and my robin to talk to! I don’t know what has delayed my narcissus, but I’m glad to see it at last, just wish it had an easier name to spell! Soon the woodland will be looking really pretty with all the hundreds of bulbs flowering, I think I will be ready in time.
Pauline, your flowers are way ahead of mine. I’ve had hellebores open by December before but this year they are very reluctant. Yours are beautiful, as are the cyclamen and snowdrops. The early daffodil is a delight. Enjoy your days in the garden.
I am really enjoying my days in the garden Susie, especially when the sun is shining! The early flowers are a delight and entice me into the garden each day.
It’s lovely to see the start of the new gardening year in your garden Pauline. Here we are really in the midst of winter snow it really is a much needed reminder that Spring is just around the corner. Glad to hear you have managed everything despite the absent gardener!
Thank you Denise, I think last week our weather was coming from you for a change, but down here we are back to being mild once more. It has been hard work without the gardener, but I think I will just about be ready in time!
What beautiful flowers, they sure will keep you sane! I hope you get your vaccine soon. What a shame about yourgardener.xxx
Thanks Dina, the flowers certainly do keep me sane! Lots more popping up uvernight, such an exciting time of year. It’s just thanks to the lockdown that I’m able to do so much work in the woodland, every cloud etc…normally I would be at meetings or having coffee with friends. It shouldn’t be too long before I’m called for my vaccine, I’m well over 70 so the call should be coming soon!
Gardener or no gardener I’m sure it will be as amazing as always.
Disappointing that you won’t have everyone over, but I’m glad to hear you’ll be able to meet up through the blog. I’ll be doing the same, but here it’s because everyone suitably snowdrop-crazy is so far away! The locals are far more sane.
You’re too kind Frank! Work has stopped for a few days as we have been struck by Storm Christoph and it has been non stop torrential rain, I hope not too many flowers have been battered. I don’t think the locals quite understand my fascination with snowdrops but they enjoy seeing them when not much else is out, normally of course they get coffee and cake , but not this time unfortunately.