Most of the flowers in the garden at the moment are ones that usually flower at this time of year, but some are hanging on and just don’t know when to stop. No area has the wow factor at this time of year and I wouldn’t expect it to, it is more a question of searching for the flowers on my daily wander and they are there if I look carefully.
The first flower that I come across is the Chaenomeles, just outside the back door, you can’t miss it. This started flowering last month and will continue on and off all winter, depending on the weather.
Chaenomeles
Iris unguicularis Walter Butt.
This iris has been flowering for quite some time now, usually there are 2 or 3 flowers at a time, I just wish something wouldn’t keep nibbling them!
Campanula posharskyana.
This Campanula just doesn’t know when to stop, it has been flowering non stop for about 9 months now, I think we need some frost to make it have a rest.
Wild Primrose.
There are quite a few wild primroses flowering in the garden, a sign that spring isn’t far away.
Primula.
The colourful Primulas are also thinking that spring has come, a frost will soon finish off the flowers, but I’ll enjoy them while I can.
Erica.
Winter heather is flowering away at the base of the dead oak. There used to be a few heathers here, but one by one they have dwindled away, maybe I ought to take some cuttings.
Rosa Iceberg.
Still flowering, Rosa Iceberg is looking really beautiful. I must cut all the roses back so that they will have a rest over the winter.
Iris unguicularis Mary Barnard
This iris doesn’t normaly flower here until the new year, so this is quite early. It is a darker blue than Walter Butt and loves its sunny position.
Geum Totally Tangerine.
A few single flowers keep appearing on G. Totally Tangerine adding a lovely splash of colour to the border.
Snowdrop.
A few early snowdrops are starting to flower, but they will soon get a few posts all to themselves in Jan/Feb……..
Snowdrops.
………but most of them are at this stage.
Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn.
Flowering all through the winter when the weather lets it is this Viburnum with its delicate perfume.
Veronica.
Tiny flowers on a small creeping Veronica by the Alpine Scree, the size must be about a quarter of the size in the photo.
Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation.
N. Rijnveld’s Early Sensation is flowering earlier than usual, it is usually just about flowering by Christmas, so this year, I feel it is 2 weeks earlier than normal.
Muscari Valerie Finnis.
Keeping the early narcissus company is M. Valerie Finnis and this is really early, I have never known it to flower at this time of year before, I hope it doesn’t regret it!
Cyclamen hederifolium.
Not flowers I know, but I thought you might like to see the tiny cyclamen hederifolium corms that I found while taking the photos for this post. I was looking for seeds but I think the ants have beaten me to the seed cases, however, I found lots of tiny cyclamen corms sitting on top of the mother corms, where they really don’t stand a chance of developing properly.
Cyclamen corms.
The tiny corms are like little pearls. I have now potted them up, 6 to a pot, where they will live for a year, there are 36 of them. This has saved me a year , if I had found seed they would have taken 3 years until they flowered, this way, if I pot them on singly in a years time, hopefully they will be ready to plant out a year later and flower in the autumn for the first time. I do love getting plants for free and I certainly wouldn’t go out and buy 36 cyclamen plants!
The 15th of each month is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, and thanks must go to Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Please pay her a visit to see flowers blooming around the world.
Lovely flowers – you made me feel like spring was already here! Lots to look forward to.
I keep thinking of you Annette, when I see the weather forecast each day, you have been having it really bad up there haven’t you. Unlike the north, we are still having ridiculously high temperatures for this time of year, in the teens, and only a couple of degrees cooler at night, its no wonder some of my plants are confused!
How delightful to see a daffodil in December! You’ve lots of little winter treasures in bloom. I’m glad that you posted the baby cyclamen corms as I didn’t know that they did this. Must go check to see if mine have any babies to pot up. Happy GBBD!
The daffodil, Peter, is supposed to flower early, but not this early! I was surprised to find the baby cyclamen when I went looking for seed pods, I had read about them in a book years ago, but had never seen any before. By just holding the leaf and pulling ever so gently, they parted company with the bit of soil that they had rooted in, I wish I had done this years ago!
It’s a most rum year Pauline with only one frost here to date. Let’s hope for a cold snap soon. It’s fascinating to see all those cyclamen babies. I’m looking forward to reading all about your snowdrops next month.
We too Anna, have only had one little tiny frost so far, we really do need one to kill off all the nasties! When I checked on the baby cyclamen yesterday, they all looked bright and perky, they have recovered from being moved from the mother plant, I will now just wait for them to grow!
That Iceberg rose is perfect. Although I still have roses most of them are looking a bit bedraggled after all the weather. I forgot about Campanula. I remember seeing some now I’m reminded of it. And like Peter I shall be excavating around the cyclamen at first light tomorrow! What a find.
The Iceberg rose was the only one looking presentable Jessica, there are lots of others, but they are very bedraggled! I think it was one of Beth Chatto’s books where I read about the tiny corms sitting on the mother corm, but this is the first time I’ve seen any. It was a delicate operation persuading the baby to let go with it’s roots, I only spoilt about 4/5 which came up without the corm at the bottom, just hold the leaf and very gently pull, keeping your fingers crossed at the same time!
Lucky you having so many beautiful blooms to enjoy….in December! I love the iceberg rose, that is perfect and those little corms are lovely! How nice to find so many!xxx
I was lucky to find so many baby corms Dina, and so excited with my find! Hopefully they will grow over the winter and then I’ll be able to pot them individually in the spring. The Iceberg rose looked so perfect whereas the other roses looked rather bedraggled.
I love your flowers! Especially the snowdrops!
Greetings, Sofie # 11
http://sofies-succulent-beads.blogspot.com
Thanks Sofie, lovely to hear from you!
So many early flowers in your garden it makes winter that bit shorter. Like you, I garden in the S.W. and I’m surprised as summer flowers are still going while they are joined by early spring ones – seasons melding into one.
Lovely Sue, to hear from someone else down in the SW! I’m not surprised that the flowers are mixed up, it has been so warm, hasn’t it. I was very surprised to see my daffodil so early, it has never been this early before.
So much promise of spring in your garden Pauline, it is lovely wandering around and finding treasures. While I was in Yeovil 10 days ago I was amazed to see masses of daffodils on the road verges, it is unusual that municipal planting would include such early varieties; they seemed a little incongruous with all the Christmas lights and decorations.
Yes, I can imagine that daffodils and Christmas lights don’t go together Christina, it must have seemed rather strange. I love wandering round the garden, weather permitting, as there is always something new to find, nestling amongst the leaves. So many bulbs are almost flowering but not quite, I hope any frost doesn’t kill them off.
Oh and I forgot the campanula in my post – almost always flowering of course! I saw daffodils on the news but this is the first ‘ real’ one in a garden – amazing really. I remember your chaenomeles from last year – what a delightful sight at this time of year. Seeing your last photos is tempting me to do the same with some of mine…
It’s worth trying with the baby cyclamen corms Cathy, there’s nothing to lose! My daffodil is supposed to flower by Christmas, but this is the earliest it has opened here. I suppose the daffs must look strange with Christmas decorations in the towns, but the weather is to blame I think !
Hi Pauline, one of the thrilling parts of our short winter is finding signs of spring, I am amazed at how many as you already are seeing. My chaenomeles is beginning to bloom; usually it does not begin till January. Your post has made me want to go out and hunt for primulas! Wishing you a blessed and very Merry Christmas!
We have had such a warm start to winter over here Deb, even night time temperatures are still in double figures C. The plants are confused, I hope we don’t get a sudden freeze that will kill all the flowers off. The chaenomeles is just getting better and better, each day there are lots new flowers opening.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas!