The start of a whole new year.

Wandering round the garden to see what is flowering on New Year’s Day could become a nice habit for me. We have been having a warm spell for the last couple of weeks and I think this has brought on some early flowers as well as the ones that should be flowering at this time of year. Each morning lately I’ve been turning the heating off it is so unseasonably warm.

Starting in the front garden, snowdrop Mrs. McNamara is standing up proud in spite of some rain.

Jasminum nudiflorum still flowering by the front door, but maybe past its best now.

Mahonia Charity is still flowering and will be for a while yet.

Flowering under the Mahonia is a winter flowering heather, it could do with a bit of a trim.

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn is still covered with flowers and the perfume is delightful as I walk up the garden by the field.

The daisies in the lawn have started flowering!

The camellia in the corner by the Old School is covered with buds and the first one has just started to open. It will continue flowering through the winter as long as the weather is kind.

My first Hellebore to flower this year, such a pretty one.

Galanthus Midwinter should be renamed Early Winter!

Symphitum forming ground cover in an odd corner.

Arabis starting to flower on the rockery, much earlier than usual.

White cyclamen coum on the rockery.

Galanthus Little John in the woodland, this is much earlier than usual.

Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation looking very springlike. More buds are opening each day.

Each clump is increasing too.

The first snowdrops to flower for me this time, G. Faringdon Double, some of the flowers are almost over, but then it has been in flower since the end of November!

Galanthus Lapwing has joined in and is now flowering.

Choysia ternata having a flurry of flowers at the moment, but will flower again later I hope!

Purple cyclamen coum in the woodland.

A double snowdrop which has lost its label!

Iris unguicularis flowering under the dining room window.

One of a few primulas flowering at the moment.

One minute nothing to see, the next day, almost flowering, Iris reticulata Pauline.

Just one day later sees the flowers open properly. Other varieties will be open in a couple of days.

Pansies by the back door, they are taking their time to flower for me, still just one, rather chewed, yellow one.

The chaenomeles by the back door is just getting better and better with more buds opening each day.

I really must do a seperate post about her soon.

But look what I noticed yesterday, the same variety of chaenomeles I think, but growing by the garage. This has never flowered at this time of year before, only in the spring, a bit of research needed.

This is my offering for New Year’s Day, it was rather pleasant wandering round in the sunshine, with just the birds for company, hopefully I’ll get out later and do a bit more tidying round my winter flowers.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year for 2019 with lots of wonderful gardening days to come!

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22 Responses to The start of a whole new year.

  1. Frank says:

    Not bad at all!
    Even here we are well above our normal temperatures for this time of year. Plants aren’t as easily fooled but if it stays like this we too will be seeing a few things starting into the next growing season. A few snowdrops are well up but no iris!

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Frank! Temperatures are supposed to fall starting today, so I hope it doesn’t get too cold for the flowers, I can always go back to wearing my coat in the garden but they can’t!

  2. Anna says:

    Oh what a lot of early stirrings in your garden Pauline. Those irises and the daisy took me by surprise. I wonder if your weather forecast is also predicting a colder interlude this week. Hopefully it might slow things down a bit. The chaenomeles by your back door is such an attractive soft pink. I look forward to hearing more about it. A happy New Year to you too and enjoy your garden xxx

    • Pauline says:

      Yes Anna, we are supposed to have it colder from today, even yesterday afternoon the wind got round to the north and it seemed a lot colder where I was working in the garden. I am enjoying getting the snowdrop beds ready for their big moment, still finding more leaves to sweep up, where do they all come from?

  3. snowbird says:

    Such beautiful blooms, so very welcome I imagine. We have all sorts popping out really early, this sudden cold snap we’re having may finish them off. Some of your pictures aren’t showing Pauline, I must come back when you add them. All the very best for 2019.xxx

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Dina, cold snap coming here too so I think a lot will keep their buds tightly shut! All the photos were added at the same time, so I don’t know what is happening with them, I don’t know what to do to sort it I’m afraid. Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and your family.

  4. Diana Studer says:

    Happy New Year!
    I miss my Japanese flowering quince.

  5. Denise says:

    How quickly it goes Pauline! I can hardly believe you already have so many flowers in your garden – how lovely. I will have to wait another 3 months before I see something similar here. I love your Chaenomeles and the irises, as well as the snowdrops of course!

    • Pauline says:

      All thanks to a mild spell I think Denise, although the temperature has taken a tumble today with the wind coming from the north! Our serious snow last year came at the end of March which was a surprise for us all, I hope that doesn’t happen this year!

  6. Sue C. says:

    What an amazing display Pauline. Apart from mahonia not a lot out here – i shall have to work on that. My snowdrops are later ones and just pushing through. I’ve been trying to clear a few more leaves from around them and the other beds – like you I’m surprised at how many leaves are still around.
    Happy New Year

    • Pauline says:

      Thanks Sue,some due to our mild weather but that has come to a stop now, I think it is going to freeze tonight! Most of my snowdrops normally flower in February, but they are all up looking as though they could flower soon. I spent an hour this afternoon clearing leaves from one of the beds where I have a few snowdrops, they are almost flowering too, hopefully the cold spell will hold them back a bit.

  7. debsgarden says:

    Hi Pauline, A walk in the garden is a great way to start the new year, and I am impressed with how many blooms you have. I have a few camellia blooms but not much else. But we have had so much rain, I confess I have not looked closely. I do know that I have plenty of new weeds! Best wishes for happy gardening in 2019!

    • Pauline says:

      It was lovely Deb, wandering round in the winter sunshine, but it is a lot colder now with the wind from the north and east, any sensible flower will now stay tightly closed. The weeds are certainly popping up everywhere keeping me busy!

  8. catmint says:

    Hi Pauline, how I love your macro photography. Chaenomeles is one of my all time favourite plants but I never found a place for it in my garden unfortunately. So I appreciate yours all the more. Happy new year to you.

    • Pauline says:

      Thank you Catmint, I appreciate that! My Chaenomeles was already in the garden when I arrived here, I have just kept it cut back against the wall so that the path is kept free. I will certainly miss it when I eventually have to move, hopefully that won’t be for a while.

  9. Cathy says:

    Wow, looks like spring in your garden Pauline! All Inhave atvthe moment is two hellebores flowering. Happy new year!

    • Pauline says:

      Well that makes one more hellebore than is flowering here Cathy! We now have freezing temperatures so I think buds will stay closed for a while and everything will slow down which will be a good thing. Happy New Year to you and yours!

  10. Peter says:

    So many beautiful blooms in your garden on the first day of the new year. Certainly lots to celebrate.

  11. Cathy says:

    A good crop of early bloomers, Pauline

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