Spring Green

 I know that it isn't Spring and I still think that we'll get Winter with snow and ice - it's not over yet - but I was cooking Leek risotto and was struck by the lovely vibrant green and white of the leeks.  (Unfortunately, once incorporated into the risotto, they go a rather sludgier green which isn't so attractive.)  Anyway, this got me thinking about green and I had a wander in the garden to see whether there was anything to report.

 I'm not sure what this is - it is in a pot where I planted lots of Anemone Blanda, but whether it is one of those, or whether it is a rogue plant from somewhere else, remains to be seen. So far, it is the only pot in the twenty or so which I planted showing any signs of doing anything.  It is in a rather shady part of the garden, so the flash kicked in, hence the rather bright highlights!

 My crocuses are starting to grow.

 Now this photo represents an amazing thing.  It may not look much, but these are hyacinths which we bought last year at The Garden House, Saxby.  Once they had finished flowering, I wasn't sure what to do with them as in the past, I haven't successfully grown hyacinths in the border.  This time, not wanting to get rid of them, I thought I'd plant them, which I did, with no thought of ever seeing them again.  However, here they are and  I am really delighted!

Here they are from February 2013, having just been purchased.   I'll keep you posted on their progress.

Finally, I couldn't post about Spring and Green without mentioning my favourite flower from Winter/Spring - the humble snowdrop.  These were given to me by Mum, from her garden and they are quite large ones.  I love to see them every year as they look so delicate but are, in fact, incredibly tough plants, bursting through the soil despite whatever the weather can throw at them. You have just got to admire their tenacity.