It was actually a sunny day yesterday so I was able to nip out for a little while and take some photos for today’s post. The birds were actually singing and the squirrels chasing each other round the tree trunks, so spring is definitely in the air! Snowdrops are coming on nicely plus other winter beauties, but I still haven’t managed to tidy the woodland yet, so many twigs and small branches that have been brought down in the gales need tidying and there are weeds everywhere.
My first hellebore which is properly in flower.
Galanthus Diggory which has still to swell to its proper size.
Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation, but unfortunately it was late this year ‘cos of the frost and ice, it was 2 weeks late as it is usually out by Christmas.
Galanthus Lapwing which has increased very well.
Iris unguicularis which is starting to flower once more now that the temperature is rising again. By Christmas it had at least 20 flowers open but they soon got frosted and the ice put paid to them for a week or so.
Galanthus Godfrey Owen which has all white petals.
My good faithful Chaenomeles by the back door. This was frosted and covered in ice when we had freezing fog, so flowering stopped for a bit. It is now back into flowering mode and looking lovely once more.
That is my offering for this week, thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for organising, do pop over to him to see flowers from around the world.
Beautiful photos with seasonal flowers that haven’t yet bloomed here. I also notice the lovely light in your photos, meaning you must have enjoyed a beautiful sunny day.
It was a very sunny day when I took my photos Fred, made such a change from all the rain we have had lately! More flowers are opening each time I look, they encourage me to go for a wander whenever possible.
Gosh – lots of lovely colour. That Hellebore is a beauty. Funnily enough, I noticed quite a bit of bird song the other morning – it was still dark too. It lifted the spirits rather.
It is still dark when I put the bird food out each morning Graeme and there is definitely a bit of a morning chorus each morning now from the birds. It’s lovely to see all the bulbs starting to flower once more.
That Flowering Quince is so pretty! You’ve lifted my mood with your lovely late winter/early spring blooms. These beauties don’t bloom here until March or April, so I truly appreciate seeing them on your blog. Splendid colors. 🙂
I rely on my flowering quince at this time of year Beth, for a splash of colour. We don’t have it very cold here in the SW of the UK so the garden never really stops and so many plants are willing to flower through the winter.
Wow, a wonderfully inspiring collection of photos. Love the quince and have been considering buying one for the fruit. How tall is Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation? ie Does it tend to collapse in bad weather???
Thanks Allison, the quince is a chaenomeles and does occasionally have fruit, but not many. Rijnveld’s Early Sensation is about 12/15 inches tall and doesn’t flop but then I have it is a sheltered spot in the woodland.
Beautiful photographs give hope that Spring is only around the corner!
Glad you like them Piglet! They make me come out each day to see what else has started flowering at this time of year.