Thursday 13 December 2018

Winter plants

 I was continuing the rather time consuming job of insulating my many pots and tubs today.  I have left it a bit late this year because up to now, the weather has been reasonably mild. However, it is definitely colder this week and the forecast said there might be snow at the weekend, so I thought I should get a few more done today.  I managed about six before I got too cold.  While I was having a wander, I noticed some winter plants flowering.  Above is the winter honeysuckle, a shrubby and rather untidy plant, but I forgive it everything when it's in flower.  The flowers, though small, smell beautifully of lily of the valley, particularly when the sun is on them.
 This one is flowering a little earlier than usual, as it is normally January and February.
 My camellia 'Yoimachi' (which I bought last year) is flowering away too.  The flowers are white with a pink flush and lovely yellowy-orange stamens.
 The buds have that same flush of pink too.
They are so pretty and brightened up a grey December day.

9 comments:

  1. We still have some white daisies in flower and a little bit of honeysuckle but as you say the frost is going to get them sure.
    I was wondering what you are insulating you pots with?
    Love the lounging cat in the last post.
    Briony
    x

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  2. Thanks, Briony. The winter flowering honeysuckle should keep flowering through the winter, but if it gets really cold, it may stop for a while.
    I have quite large pieces of bubble wrap from work which I recycle as insulation for my pots for as long as I can. The top growth is left, but the roots in the pots are insulated. I am pretty fatalistic now though - if things survive, they survive and if they don't, it's a new opportunity for planting. Most things have come through fine - even the really cold winter of 2010.
    Cats are expert loungers, aren't they?
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  3. Loving your camellia. And will have to investigate winter honeysuckle. Is it as invasive as the summer variety?

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    1. Thanks, EC. The winter flowering honeysuckle is much more shrubby and much less of a climber. It is not the most attractive plant, being a bit on the straggly/bird's nest side in appearance. I hack it back when it threatens to become unruly and it seems to be able to cope with this kind of treatment. Lonicera Fragrantissima or Lonicera purpusii Winter Beauty are two of the varieties that come up in a search. (I'm not sure which variety mine is). The scent on a sunny winter's day is lovely. My camellia is doing very well, with not much attention from me, other than to move it into a more shady position during this summer's heatwave. I will need to pot it on in the Spring though.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Lovely to find some colour in the garden. Good idea for insulating the pots xcx

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    1. Thanks, Chrissie. It is always a bonus to find some colour in the winter garden.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. I hope you managed to get your pots finished before the cold spell hit. We're forecast snow tonight, though I'm not sure whether we'll actually get any or not. It's nice to see some colour in the garden at this time of year, the camellia is lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Jo. I still have lots more pots to insulate and will get round to them eventually - I have to do it in stages! We didn't get the snow, but it was cold, rainy and windy. It's much calmer today.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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