But for how long?!
It has been so wet for such a long time now, we have escaped the worst of the weather that has been thrown at us, but non stop rain is so depressing! The garden is absolutely sodden, flooded in places even and the drainage ditch in front of the woodland is almost a stream. We have had various storms passing through which have brought lots of small branches and twigs down in the woodland, but no big branches thank goodness.
What we have had though are some wonderful sunrises on the few days that it hasn’t been raining.
The large Camellia bush in the corner of the garden started flowering long before Christmas and is getting better all the time.
It must be quite sheltered where it is as it hasn’t been damaged by the few frosts that we have had.
I’ve never known so many flowers on this Camellia before, it is amazing.
All the other camellias are covered in beautiful fat buds, thanks to a very wet summer, just when they needed moisture to form their flowers for this year.
This group of snowdrops were flowering in November, goodness knows why! This group are finished now but the others aren’t far behind.
Wingter Jasmine, by the front door, has decided to start flowering, this is its first one.
G. Little John has decided to flower early too.
At last, a flower on Hamamellis pallida, I think she needs more sun, I’ll have to cut the bay bush that is behind her.
The Chaenomeles by the back door started flowering in November and is now covered with masses of buds which are now starting to open.
Soon it will be covered with lovely flowers as long as we don’t get too much frost.
Cyclamen coum are starting to flower, hopefully there will soon be lots of them.
Some evenings when the rain has stopped, we have had some wonderful sunsets.
Lots more snowdrops are starting to flower, but I think I’ll keep them for GBBD. I would just like the rain to give me an opportunity to get out into the garden once more to tackle the mess that looks at me each day. Everywhere is so wet underfoot and I know that I would make such a mess with my big feet, its best to stay off the soil until it dries out a bit. This is the first dry day that we have had for weeks, but I don’t think it’s going to last very long.
How is your weather, are you able to garden or are you like me, waiting for the weather to improve?
I did manage to get out yesterday to pull a few weeds, when the temperature rose into the high 40s in the afternoon. Most days here lately it’s either raining or too cold to be out there working, or both. It’s nice to get a little something done once in a while.
Lucky you being able to get out and do a bit Alison! We managed to stay dry all day, but in the evening it was back to torrential rain again.
Miserable isn’t it. I’ve tried to get outside but I just sink! Still, there are dry days in the forecast albeit quite cold ones. The only things loving this weather are the weeds.. their seeds are still germinating all over the place!
Yes Jessica, really miserable! Last night was just as bad, the wind was howling through the trees all night after the rain had stopped. Weeds never seem to stop do they, goodness knows when I’ll be able to get them out!
I don’t think you really want to hear any more about our weather here in the US. It’s definitely not raining though!
The camellia is beautiful. It’s one plant I can only dream of growing in this climate. i have a few seedlings which are supposed to be hardier sorts, but only time will tell if they can make it through another winter. And then of course there’s the wait until they reach blooming size!
I can’t believe your snowdrops are all so far and looking so nice. Last time I saw them mine were just tiny noses if anything.
We keep getting shown your east coast weather on our news Frank, you are having a bad time of it!
This camellia was the first plant that I put in here 27 yrs ago, it is now quite huge and makes quite a statement in the corner of the garden at this time of year. I do hope you succeed with your seedlings, camellias seem to be a lot hardier that first thought.
Your sunsets look so much like the ones I experience here! We always have very wet, drab winters. But this week we have had some beautiful days, although bitterly cold – well below freezing and no inducement to garden!Your camellia bush is outstanding. I picked some camellias blooms to bring inside before this weeks freeze. Hopefully the tight buds will be OK.
I love the fleetingly beautiful sunrises and sunsets that we sometimes get,they make the winter more bearable! I have copied you and brought some camellia flowers to enjoy inside the house where I can enjoy them without getting wet!
I do love your Camelia Pauline, but it’s not a shrub for my part of Sweden unfortunately. On the other hand Chaenomeles is very happy here though of course not yet flowering! We did see all the snow disappear before Christmas giving me and my friend from UK chance to clear the lawn of the last fallen leaves! I hope you will be able to get out in your garden again soon.
Thank you Denise, at one time, when they were first brought back to England, it was thought that they weren’t hardy and special glasshouses were built for them. Over time it has been realised that they are hardy, or most of them anyway. Mine have been down to -10C, but that was without any snow, I don’t know how they would like that! I was actually out in the garden this morning, planting bulbs that should have been planted well before Christmas, hopefully they will just be a little late flowering!
Waiting hopefully for a few millimetres of rain tomorrow.
I hope you get your rain Diana, it is so essential for all of us, never mind our gardens.
The weather here has been, as the song says, frightful. Temperatures hovering around 0 degrees F, or about -18 Celsius. It’s been like that since Christmas. The cold snap is supposed to end by tomorrow.
I have been watching your weather on our news Jason, it sounds horrendous, I hope it ends soon for you all, stay safe and warm!
This winter we’ve had more cold weather than you Pauline and considerably more frosty nights. Today we have heavy rain but we haven’t had much rain at all so far this winter or all of last year! The cold weather has meant some gorgeous sunsets though and they are something to really enjoy, like yours. I hope you are able to get out into the garden soon. A very happy New Year to you.
Our part of the country has escaped the worst of the weather Christina, the rest of the country has had it much colder and a lot more frost and snow than we have. I actually managed to get out and plant some bulbs the other day, the rest will have to go into pots so that I can plant them when all the other bulbs show themselves. Hopefully they will just flower a few weeks later than usual!