In a brief spell of dry weather, I took the opportunity to have a photo opportunity wander round the garden. The sogginess of the lawns means that my wanderings are short lived.
So many others have commented the spring bulbs are jumping the gun. In the back garden some of the crocuses are well on the way to flowering.
If you look closely you may be able to spot and immature flower bud nestling in the rosette of leaves.
Daffodils that were dug up from the garden and placed in tubs for transit to the plot even have flower buds.
These have been patiently awaiting their taxi to transport them to the allotment for over a year now - maybe even two - and I am sure that they didn't flower at all last year.
The miniature daffodils around the bird bath are also ahead of schedule.
Tête à tête isn't far behind.
The photo below was taken of the same area on 24 February 2015.
I'd say that the bulbs are at a similar stage now on 9 January.
I planted some Fritillaria Michailowskyi last year.
I planted five bulbs so the shoots above look to be the right number and in the right place. If they are I do hope they manage to produce flowers.
In the pebble garden the miniature narccissus are growing quickly.
I think that these are a variety called minnow but I also planted some Narcissus Bulbocodium in this bed last year.
Now the conundrum - why if many of the bulbs seem to be ahead of schedule do our snowdrops still look like this?
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My snowdrops too are only very slightly in advance of normal
ReplyDeleteStrange isn't it Roger?
DeleteSame here!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, your soil looks in good heart.
Gill
The soil is still very wet, Gill
DeleteInteresting point! You would expect that the Snowdrops would do the same as the rest.
ReplyDeleteMaybe snowdrops need a period of chill to trigger the growth, Mark
DeleteHmmm - that's strange. Maybe they have an internal clock that keeps them dormant for a given amount of time? Is your weather supposed stay mild? I would be worried about the damage a prolonged cold snap might do.
ReplyDeleteIt's starting to get colder now, Margaret. I think maybe winter is on its way.
DeleteI wonder if the snow drops are triggered more by day length than temperature?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Tracy. Being an early spring flower it is possible that it waits until the daylight hours seem to be increasing. Alternatively as I said above maybe it just needs a cold snap to trigger it into thinking it has had a winter.
DeleteI Think the snowdrops are just hedging their bets Sue...it will be a shame though if they aren't the only things in flower...I always love to see the snowdrops as the first flowers of the year,
ReplyDeleteAs it is at present, Tanya maybe it's the only one to get things right.
DeleteMaybe they think it's still summer..? Daffodils blooming everywhere here, it's most confusing. Maybe I should get some radishes in.
ReplyDeleteWon't it be a shame, CJ if we miss out on a usual spring flowering time.
DeleteHello again, Sue :-) I think we must have been out on garden wanders at the same time today. Your bulbs are way ahead of mine as I'd expect given our locations, but my snowdrops aren't that far behind yours so you do have a conundrum!
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder then that we didn't bump into one another, surely :-) I think maybe our drop in temperature could slow things down a bit. Hopefully the buds will hang on until a bit nearer true spring.
DeleteWow... lots of flower buds! I can't wait to see the blossom
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that they don't burst into flower too soon, Endah
DeleteDaffodils flowers are so pretty! I can't imagine how beautiful your place is with all the emerging bulb!
ReplyDeleteAs long as the flowers don't coincide with a spell of snow, Malar
DeleteMy mixed batch of bulbs are making their way out, it will be interesting what the weather has in stall for them x
ReplyDeleteIt will, Jo but I hope the weather is reasonably kind to them and doesn't spoil the show.
DeleteI think my snowdrops must be a very late variety as they always flower much later than other people's. I haven't seen any sign of them as yet, in fact, I've only noticed the daffodils poking through so far.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought our snowdrops must be a late variety, Jo as they always seem to be behind lots of others. Often there are photographs of snowdrops on lots of blogs when mine are hardly peeping through
DeleteI would think like Tracy that they must be waiting for longer days.
ReplyDeleteIt could well be, Alain. It's fascinating to find out why certain plants behave in the way that they do.
DeleteThe bulbs do seem to be a good month early.....yours are way ahead of mine, especially the crocus. Let hope we don't get a really big freeze.xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's strange, Dina as the crocuses are at different stages depending upon where in the garden they have been planted. Some are just poking through the soil and in some places where I think I planted some there are no signs yet.
DeleteWould you want to expose yourself in this weather? I'm with the snowdrops!
ReplyDeleteMe too, L. Snowdrops have sense.
DeleteMy snowdrops are at about the same stage as yours, it is quite surprising when others like daffs are coming up though my daffs aren't as advanced as yours. Nice to see things growing again though, this cold snap will probably stall everything a bit though
ReplyDeleteI think I would rather the plants go on hold, Annie
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