Last week I thought I would be giving S.O.S. a miss this week as I didn’t think I would have anything new to show you, but the plants thought differently! Sitting at my laptop and looking up out of the window, I thought, what are those spots of pink and red on the rhododendrons? Yes, they had decided to flower and they are not early varieties, they usually flower in May!
Very early indeed, when open fully, the flowers are very large on this variety.
Another early bird, almost next to the previous one, the flowers will be somewhat smaller than the pink ones..
Snowdrop time has the early varieties flowering now, this one is Galanthus Midwinter.
G. Mrs. MacNamara is by the front door, I’m sure I moved her last year, maybe I left a few bulbs behind?
G. Little John in the woodland, this will make a good sized clump when it gets flowering properly, I think something has been having a nibble!
Iris unguicularis Walter Butt is still putting out the odd flower or two. It must be sheltered where I have planted it, tucked up at the side of one of the box cubes on the driveway.
My Chaenomeles hedge by the backdoor is taking its time over flowering, usually it is in full flower by now but these are the only ones at the moment, lots of buds to come though.
I will be driving up to Bristol to be with my daughter and grandsons for Christmas, although the grandsons are now grown men in their 20s, not little any more! The M5 will be nice and quiet on Christmas Day, and if I time it right, lunch should be just about ready when I get there!
Thanks to Jim for hosting us through the year, do pay him a visit at Garden Ruminations to see what we are all up to round the world. I send you all, very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year, I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends.
Well what a lovely surprise the rhododendrons flowering now. Hope you have a lovely time with your family……Merry Christmas and happy New Year Pauline!
They are a surprise aren’t they Denise, hope they enjoy the mild weather we will be having for the next week or so. Happy Christmas to you and yours Denise and all the Best for 2024!
Plants like to give us little surprises! Lovely to see the snowdrops. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, hope lunch was ready!
They do don’t they Gill. I have a little rhodo that should be flowering about now, lots of buds bud no sign of colour yet. I’ll let you know about lunch next time!
Like you, last week I didn’t think I would fulfill the contract of finding six photos, but we both succeeded! I cheated a little as you will see… Happy Christmas Pauline and these flower buds are full of promise…
Yes Fred, there is lots of promise for next spring, I think thanks to all our rain in July and August when the buds are forming. Happy christmas to you and your family Fred and good wishes for the New Year.
Your rhododendrons are definitely full of Christmas cheer! I think that many of our plants have been in a state of confusion throughout this year, Pauline. I love your snowdrops! Note to self – I need to add more around the borders!
Enjoy your Christmas with your family, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2024!
They are rather seasonal aren’t they Catherine, especially the red one. No one can have too many snowdrops, I must split quite a few of mine though, rather than buy more! I hope you have a lovely Christmas Catherine and send bast wishes for the New Year.
A lovely six, I spotted a camellia flower or two on my tree just yesterday. Merry Christmas.
Thanks Rosie, well don spotting your camellia flowers. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.
That’s a wonderful selection of early flowering snowdrops. Have a very Merry Christmas and safe journeying.
Thanks Graeme, I do have more flowering but something has been having a good nibble at them! Happy Christmas to you and your family too.
I love the snowdrops.
Thanks, there will soon be a lot more! Happy Christmas.
It’s lovely to see the first of the snowdrops, as well as all the other signs of life in your garden.
Have a safe journey on Christmas Day, and enjoy the time with your family.
Thanks Helen, the snowdrops are early varieties, lots more to come during Jan through to March! It will be lovely seeing all the family again, the last time was for my 80th in the summer!
Gorgeous snowdrops and fabulous rhodoflowers, wow that is early!xxx
Thanks Dina, the rhododendrons are certainly out far too soon, they might regret it!x