Hydrangea and camellia

The last of the hydrangea leaves has now fallen and these were the most stunning colour, so I had to get a photo. This is Hydrangea Merveille Sanguine.

Down at the bottom of the garden, Camellia Yoimachi is quietly flowering away.

I do like these delicate white flowers, with just a hint of pale pink on the petals. They appear on my blog with regularity as I so enjoy seeing them at this time of year.

Really pretty and brightening up many a dull grey day.

Spring colour

Spring has sprung, so let's celebrate!  The camellias in the garden are in full bloom.  Above is an unnamed one I bought as a stick and it is doing really well and flowering profusely.

This unnamed double was a present from my Mum and has enjoyed being potted on.

Camellia St Ewe with its egg yolk yellow stamens.

Camellia Yoimachi which has had flowers through the winter.

Other flowers in bloom are Cardamine Quinquefolia which is certainly spreading through the border, but so far, hasn't proved to be a nuisance.

Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai with its pretty white flowers.

When the sun shines, just look at the beautiful blue sky.  A lovely Spring colour.

Echoing the blue sky, I recently potted these scillas on into a bigger pot and they have rewarded me with a mass of flowers.  Such a pretty plant. I need some more of these, I think! I also have my first tulips flowering in the border.  No doubt they will get a post in the weeks to come.

In the garden late December/early January

I ventured into the garden to see what was braving late December/early January weather and then got sidetracked so am posting this now.  Above is one of the Nemesia Melody series...

...and here's another...

...and another.  They are good value plants.

Hellebores were in flower. Here is Hello White Pearl.

While Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine was just opening up.  The hellebores in pots always seem to flower before the ones in the ground.

There was a cyclamen coum and the start of some snowdrops.

Jasminium nudiflorum (winter flowering jasmine) was bringing its own sunshine to a dull corner.

Camellia Yoimachi flowers enticed me down to the bottom of the garden to look at them more closely.

The ever faithful winter flowering honeysuckle was also in flower.  Of course, a week or so after taking these photos, we had a week of frost and temperatures only just above freezing during the day. Everything was flattened by it, but has recovered.

Winter gardening and looking forward

So far, December has been wet, grey and a bit dismal.  The garden is looking rather bedraggled and unkempt.  I leave all the flower heads and seed heads over winter, for insects and birds and winter interest. When I venture out, which is most days, I look forward to seeing the garden changing with the seasons. I am trying to have something in flower for every month in the year and so far, I think the garden is managing that. Above is camellia Yoimachi, proving it was a good buy.

There is also Camellia Yuletide, a relatively recent addition, but with lovely red flowers.  It is certainly earning its place.

While not yet in flower, some of my hellebores are showing they will be soon. Above is Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine.  I was very excited to see these buds.

Here is hellebore Hello White Pearl, proving to be a real stalwart, along with...

...Hellebore Hello Ruby.  While I don't want to wish the days away, it's lovely to be able to look forward to what is yet to come.

In and Out

My vibrantly coloured Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera - originally from Brazil) is starting to show its fuchsia flowers. Last year it tried to flower but I didn't give it enough water so the buds fell off.  I am not making that same mistake this year.  I repotted it in the summer and have been much more diligent with watering and look at it now!  It is on the bathroom windowsill and seems to be enjoying it there.

The flowers are so bright they are almost neon.  When things are turning shades of yellow, brown and grey outside, it is so nice to have colour inside.

Having said that about outside, Camellia Yoimachi is starting to flower.  We had our first frost last night and it is due to continue to be frosty for the next few nights.   This camellia will continue to flower on and off through the winter into the Spring.  There is only the faintest touch of pink around the petals at the moment.

I do like the contrast of the white and yellow.  The garden is still providing things to enjoy.

Spring is just round the corner

Spring is almost here and the garden is starting to respond to the increasing light levels.  The camellias need to be featured as they are looking lovely at the moment. I was a bit concerned that the snow and overnight frosts would play havoc with the flowers, but so far they are all right.  Above is an unnamed one given to me by my Mum.

Camellia St Ewe is providing a lovely splash of colour down at the bottom of the garden...

...as is Yoimachi, which has been flowering for ages.

Another unnamed camellia looking so pretty with its blush pink flowers. This is probably a japonica variety.

I planted this little trough of Tete a Tete narcissus last Autumn and they make me smile with their happy yellow flowers.

The colour contrasts well with the cool blue of this scilla.

My standard cherry Kojo-no-mai is also starting to flower.

Cardamine quinquefolia is also doing well - possibly making an attempt at border domination.  I keep meaning to dig some out, but in flower it is pretty and then it dies down again, so I forget to do it.

Hellebores in the garden are later than the potted ones.  This is Harvington Pink speckled.

This one is Harvington Pink Picotee.

Finally, just because I can, more camellias.  Well, when they flower, they should be celebrated, shouldn't they?

Spring is nearly here.  I have tulips in bud too, which is always exciting!

The garden in early February

I am pleased to say that the hellebores which were starting to flower in January have survived the frosts and are back looking good.  Above is Winter Sunshine.

Here is Hello Ruby...

...and Hello White Pearl.  Considering they had been flattened by the frosts, they have staged a terrific comeback.

Snowdrops are in flower too.  I love these seemingly delicate flowers.

These were some which I dug up (with permission) from my mum's previous garden.  

I do enjoy seeing them each year.

They are quite tall so may be an elwesii variety.

Other plants can be seen putting out tentative foliage.

Camellia Yoimachi is so pretty.

The rather sprawling and birds-nest like Winter flowering honeysuckle has really got into its stride...

...these tiny white flowers pack a punch of lily of the valley fragrance, but on a dull day, you have to get your nose right to the flower.

They are pretty little flowers. 

Finally for now, there are tulips starting to appear in the borders too.  It is all really exciting!