The dreaded snow coming down from the Arctic the other day managed to almost miss us, thank goodness. We woke to just a tiny smattering of snow which soon vanished once the sun rose in the sky, we were so lucky as the rest of the country really suffered. Plants that were flowering looked a bit sorry for a while but soon perked up once more and were fit to be photographed for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
Just a sprinkling.
Lots more flowers are now opening on the Chaenomeles by the back door.
Viburnum bodnantense Dawn is still flowering by the field but you can see that some of the flowers have been caught by the frost.
The first clump of double snowdrops flowering here, staying tightly closed to keep warm.
The first of the species snowdrops to flower here, Galanthus caucasicus with the twisty leaves.
G. Little John just seems to get bigger and bigger each day.
Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation didn’t look too happy after a very frosty night, but looks happier now.
Cyclamen coum are popping up in the woodland. I don’t think ants are around in the cold weather to spread the seed as they aren’t increasing like C. hederifolium.
Garrya eliptica doing what it does best at this time of year. I think it needs a clematis growing up it for the the summer though as it is rather boring once flowering is over.
At last, the Camellia in the corner of the garden by the old school is starting to open its flower buds. Usually in flower from November, it is taking its time this year. I can’t say I blame it, yesterday it was being battered by the arctic north wind!
Polyanthus brave whatever weather is thrown at them.
Iris unguicularis under the dining room window never seems to have more than one or two flowers at a time, but I’m grateful for those.
Jasminum nudiflorum by the front door is coming to the end of its flowering now, there are less flowers now as the days go by.
Wild primrose in the front border, these always seem to be the first ones to flower in the garden here.
I found a tiny Devon violet growing in the steps onto the back lawn.
There are lots of Hellebore buds in the shady borders but none want to open up yet.
Little white Cyclamen coum in the woodland.
Daphne bholua is almost flowering, I can’t wait for that beautiful perfume.
Sarcococca making me scramble about in the ditch to photograph it! Nice perfume!
I’m sure there was no sign of Iris reticulata Pauline the other day when I walked past the alpine scree, they seem to have popped up overnight!
As you can see there are plenty of pretty flowers to tempt me into the garden, in spite of the freezing temperatures. Lots of them are just on the point of flowering, with our temperatures forecast to rise this week, I think lots more will open in the next few days.
There were lots more snowdrops flowering, but as they were all staying tightly closed in the freezing temperatures, I will save them for a warmer day when hopefully they will open and show their different markings.
Thanks as always, to Carol at May Dreams Gardens who hosts this meme encouraging us to find any flowers brave enough to venture forth in the coldest of weather!
Lovely Galanthus, and I like the wild primrose too. I am jealous of all your January blooms.
Thank you Jason, we are lucky living in the relatively warmer part of the UK. Frosts are never too bad and we don’t often get snow so gardening never seems to stop!
You are so lucky to have all those flowers in January Pauline – especially daffodils so early!
The daffodils are supposed to be early Cathy, this year they were even a bit late, they usually are flowering at Christmas time!
I absolutely adore the Garrya elliptica! I could easily forgive its boring behavior the rest of the year, though a rambling clematis sounds wonderful. This post has given me an itch to get outside to see what is happening in my own garden, which is behind yours a bit. I have hellebores that are just producing flower buds, and I know there must be lots more plants getting ready for a spring show.
Lots of plants are showing buds Deb, just waiting for the temperature to be a couple of degrees warmer, I think that might happen this week. The forecast is for it to be dull and grey, but warmer!
A good show of flowers for such a cold month. Very little indeed is flowering here now after 3 weeks of cold and strong wind, makes me just want to curl up in front of the fire, but your pretty blooms would tempt me outside.
More are opening each day now Christina, the weather has turned a bit warmer for this week. The map of Europe looks so cold at the moment on our weather forecasts, I’m glad that we are here in the UK!
What a wonderful variety of blooms for so early in the year, even the buds of the hellebore, daphne and iris are beautiful and full of promise. Just shows how planning a garden for winter interest is so well worth the effort.
Thank you Kate, gardening never really stops here, even the grass keeps growing! Quite a few of the plants are spread round the garden so I have to go looking for them, maybe they would be better if they were all together, but at least they tempt me to go for a wander!
I love these winter treasures, how lovely to have so much to enjoy in January.
They are treasures aren’t they Chloris, anything that flowers at this time of year is so precious.
Lots of color in your garden!
Those little Cyclamen are just so cute!
Have a great week!
Thank you Lea, glad you enjoyed them. I wish cyclamen coum spread the same as C hederifolium, but the seed doesn’t seem to be spreading round the garden unfortunately.
Wow! You have so many flowers out there, despite your cold and your touch of snow. I love the shot of Garrya flowers. They’re a favorite, one of our natives here in the American PNW.
Thanks Alison, the relatively warm spell we are now having will bring more flowers on and tempt me out into the garden more. The Garrya certainly makes a statement at this time of year, the flowers are beautiful.
What a lovely post, so much in bloom, I just love the snowdrops and was surprised to see that early daffadowndilly. So glad the snow missed you. xxx
We’re so glad the snow missed us Dina, You seemed to be right in it’s path, hope you didn’t suffer too much! The daffodil is an early variety and is supposed to be in flower by Christmas, but was a bit late this year. More snowdrops open each day, soon they will have a post all to themselves!
What a wonderful range of flowers for a January day. It makes me miss my warmer climate days!
I can’t wait to see your woodland take off this spring, it’s always such a springtime wonder 🙂
Thank you Frank, where was the warmer climate that you used to live? The woodland is gradually waking up, thank you for your lovely comment about it, more and more flowers open each day, soon there will be a separate post about it.
It’s always such a treat when the winter flowers start to bloom and you’ve got some beauties. I’m looking forward to the coming of spring and that time of year when we don’t have to bundle up to enjoy our gardens.
These little flowers make winter bearable Peter, something to get me out into the garden. I actually walked round the garden today without a coat, we had a balmy 9 degrees C and the birds were singing, the woodpeckers were drumming on the trees and everything seemed very promising.
The buds on your namesake iris are gorgeous, aren’t they? Like you, there are lots of things here that are just not quite flowering – but seeing your cyclamen I need to do a closer inspection!
The Iris are now in full flower Cathy and for once they haven’t been chewed by slugs! I’m assuming the ants are hiding during the cold spells as the seeds of the cyclamen aren’t getting spread around like C hederifolium are, just a few little flowers here and there, but very precious all the same.
Nice to have just a little snow to reassure your snowdrops
It didn’t last long though Diana, we’ve been left with freezing nights and very sunny cold days. I just hope the flowers don’t get confused!