From out of the window as I was pondering subject material for my blog, I noticed that things were beginning to happen in the garden. One of our hellebores has been producing flowers since November and was featured in a blog post at the time here. Now it's neighbours have decided to join in and are sporting flower buds.
Buds are poking through the soil.
The garrya is sporting long tassels.
The cyclamen coum that I raised from seed a couple of years ago are flowering in the cold greenhouse. The large leaf next to it is from one of the cyclamen that I grew from seed collected from a plant growing as a pot plant in the house last year.
I now have quite a collection of small cyclamen which are beginning to flower but as expected all are the same colour.
Flushed with success at having raised cyclamen from seed, next year I am trying a variety called Cyclamen latinia Mixed F1 from Kings seeds. They are supposed to have a perfume and I'm assuming mixed means a mixture of colours although the catalogue only shows one colour.
Surprisingly the ferns by the summerhouse still don't seem to realise that it is winter.
I wonder whether our little friend Hoppy feels like it is heading into spring.
Will his disability will prevent him from finding a mate?
STOP PRESS - Visit Martyn's blog for a video clip of Mrs Blackcap - she was around again yesterday.
STOP PRESS - Visit Martyn's blog for a video clip of Mrs Blackcap - she was around again yesterday.
We may have turned a corner calendar wise and the daylight hours may be gradually increasing but I guess there are a few more corners to be turned before the garden escapes properly into spring.
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There is a lot going on if you look for it, I am so glad the days are getting ever so slightly longer.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, Jo. I hate early darkness when you feel you should be in bed by 5:00
DeleteYour cyclamen seedlings are doing really well. I'm sure you're right about there being more winter to come, but it least it feels like Spring is only just around the corner now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll be lucky, Jessica, maybe!
DeleteI can't believe that we will get into "proper" Spring without a spell of really cold weather. This will probably be one of those years when we get snow in July! The little Hellebore plants I bought from Hayloft Plants are just beginning to put up some tiny new leaves. They are so small that I think I'll be very lucky if I get any flowers even NEXT year.
ReplyDeleteNether can I, Mark. Your hellebores should really get going soon - I think I Planted mine on the plot in Sep 2009 to grow on and then transplanted into the garden November 2010 and they were flowering in March 2011
DeleteIt's great to see life happening in the garden.. just hope we don't have too bad a cold snap before we actually get to Spring!
ReplyDeleteHoppy is lovely.. I do hope his disability doesn't stop him finding a mate.. fingers crossed.
He's quite feisty, Julie and sees rival males away from the bird table when he feels like it.
DeleteI read that you were having problems with the reply system popping back up the page. The same for me too!
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie, just another Blogger glitch. Funny that it is only with Google which you would think it would work with
DeleteIt's lovely to see your Spring-like pictures but we haven't had winter yet. Hey ho, guess there is plenty of time for nature to chuck ice and snow at us :}
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we will suffer a setback at some point, Jayne. I see you have come out of the closet! :)
DeletePlenty of things happening in the garden. The cyclamen I bought last January are blooming again, so they have survived the year, though we haven't had any really cold weather yet this winter. How lovely that you've got a blackcap in the garden, I've never seen one here, though I'm always on the lookout for anything new to the garden.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't seen the blackcap today., Jo. I wonder if she has headed off on her way to who knows where.
DeleteI have one hellebore plant that is flowering - it really does give you a bit of hope when you see things gradually happening.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange, Elaine how one hellebore seems to be ahead.? We have had one plant flowering from November. It's as if they send out a scout to test conditions and let the rest know when they should start to flower!
DeleteThe cyclamen pinks are lovely looking. Its hard to believe the ferns have stayed green over the winter, they look great. I see you have lots of new growth emerging too, I will have to look out for bulbs emerging.
ReplyDeleteThe ferns are a real surprise Kelli.
DeleteYou do have a lot going on. I love the cyclamen that you've raised from seed. I must have a go too!
ReplyDeleteI have lots of bulbs beginning to pop out, I do think it had been a really mild winter. I've seen birds collecting nesting material which could be deadly if we get a cold or snowy spring, the rescue will be flooded with baby birds....
Hoppy looks in grand condition....I'm sure the girls will be forming a queue!xxx
Hoppy is sitting on his branch waiting for his breakfast. Snowbird.
DeleteYes there are lots of signs of life aren't there, bulbs coming up all over. Its been so mild, I'm sure we will get a cold snap before the end of winter though.
ReplyDeleteWe are bound to be given a real taste of winter, Annie
DeleteLovely photos Sue, so much to see despite the time of year. I'm impressed with your cyclamen raised from seed. I do hope you blackbird finds a mate - there's someone for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised how easily the cyclamen germinated, C, especially the seeds collected from the initial plants. I hope the seeds I've bought this year do as well.
DeleteThings happening here too but I tremble for the bulbs and young shoots: surely there is worse weather ahead of us I am afraid. I remember taking a Field Trip out one February and we sat in the hills in our t-shirts: two weeks later I had to call another Field Trip off as some of the students were beginning to suffer from hypothermia.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the bulbs will be OK sweffling. They often have to contend with a bit of snow and frost
DeleteLoving that Garrya Sue :)
ReplyDeleteLife is starting to appear here too, it's balm to the soul isn't it because it reminds us that spring and those longer days are just around the corner.
That garrya was a cutting from one we had originally and have now dug up. The area was needed for the summer house. Can't wait for longer days.
DeleteI have never seen garyya here. Is it a perenial shrub or tree? Looks so tender and the flower seem as a long amaranths flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shrub Endah but I have trained it so it has a sort of trunk like a tree. Many people grow it against a wall or fence.
DeleteIn some ways I like this time of year the best Sue- it's the anticipation! Have got very keen on those lovely cyclamens recently- may get some for naturalising this year.
ReplyDeleteThe start of spring is my favourite time, Jill. Fresh green, birds singing and it all to look forward to.
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