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.

2023 - a year in plants

I had seen a lovely idea for a review of plants during 2023 on a blog I follow (Elephant's Child - the blog owner is in Australia) and she said she would like to see my version, so here it is.

January 2023 is Winter flowering honeysuckle, (Lonicera Fragrantissima or Purpusii) which has small flowers, but on a sunny day they pack a punch of lily of the valley scent.  

February is the 'common' snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis.  One of my all time favourites.

March had to be the daffodil - Narcissus Tete a Tete.

April is Tulip Ronaldo, which for me is a reliable repeat flowerer and lasts well in the garden.

May is the Allium, which could be Purple Sensation or Globemaster.

June is all about the roses in my garden and here is Rosa Eyes for You.

July is Salvia Amistad which was a joy and delight all the summer and into Autumn and Winter.

August is Hibiscus Syriacus Oiseau Bleu, again a reliable and beautiful plant.

September is Helianthus Lemon Queen which is a perennial sunflower and can be a bit of a thug. I love the cheerful flowers.  

October is Liriope Muscari which is left to its own devices and flowers away each year.

November is Salvia Cerro Potosi which is a vibrant fuchsia colour and continued to flower through the summer and right up to December in 2023. 

December is represented by Camellia Yuletide and it did flower in December 2023.

So, there is my review.  I could have chosen many others, such as clematis, hydrangeas, astrantias, jasmine, miscanthus etc, but they all get their moment on my blog during the year anyway.  I wonder what plants will do well in the coming year?

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!

The Garden - early January

I was having a wander in the garden, as I do most days, in between the showers and noticed that there is a lot to feel happy about.  Above is winter flowering honeysuckle, which has a lovely scent on a sunny day, but not so much on a day like today. 

In their temporary home, the hellebores are starting to flower.  Above is Hello Ruby...

...and Hello White Pearl, in full flower.  I think it is earlier to flower than last year, despite the December cold snap.

Here is Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine in flower too with the faint pink on the creamy green petals.

Cyclamen coum are starting to show themselves...

as is this peony which I repotted in the Autumn.  I need to dig up the two in the borders and pot them up as they have not been happy for some time - too dry and overcrowded for them.  This is a job that I need to do soon.

Camassias starting to grow too. They have enjoyed all the rain we have had recently.

Camellia Yoimachi flowering well.

A burst of sunshine provided by winter flowering jasmine (Jasminum Nudiflorum).  I must remember to prune it after it has flowered otherwise it gets very straggly and unkempt. I was surprised and pleased at how much there is to see in a wet January.  I also have some snowdrops in flower but the photos were too blurry so I'll need to try again with them.

December in the garden

So far, December has been pretty wet, mild and dull, although we have had a few sunny days.  One of these was yesterday, so I headed into the garden with my camera.  Above is a new winter flowering hellebore called Winter Princess 'Victoria'.   I found her at B&Q - a DIY store - and was intrigued that the label said she would flower through December.  I have several hellebores in the garden, but these are all late Winter/early Spring flowerers.  I can report that she has been in flower since we bought her, in November, I think.

This nemesia 'Confetti' is also still going and this was one of the cuttings I took in the summer, which were my first ever successful cuttings.  

Irises in pots and snowdrops are starting to grow.

Camellia buds are plumping up.

A self-seeded primula is flowering on the patio.  I haven't had any coloured primulas for years so am not sure where this one has come from.  Perhaps it has just been waiting for the right time.

One of my autumn fruiting raspberries is still fruiting too and I ate a raspberry as I wandered round the garden. It still tasted fine.

My small winter flowering jasmine is flowering, but that is more to be expected at this time of year.  It is still a young plant, but is brightening up this part of the border.

Camellia Yoimachi has flowered once this winter, but there are more buds.

This is hydrangeas 'The Bride' which has one flower still looking good.

Snowdrops in a tub.

Camassia starting to grow - I think this is much too early, but they have been enjoying the rain.

Snowdrops in the border.

Another hydrangea, giving really good value for money is Coco - lovely white flowers in summer and then a range of colours as the flowers fade.

More Coco...

...and again.

Winter flowering honeysuckle is in flower and on a sunny day, the scent is lily of the valley.  Again, this is flowering quite early for me - it is usually in January or February.

Small, insignificant flowers, but the scent is wonderful!

To finish, here is a flower from the new hellebore - Victoria.  She is giving me a lot of pleasure, as are all the featured plants.