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DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
15 February 2024 15:27:01
4 is not a rowan but a prunus, probably cherry plum P. cerasifera

5 is cyclamen, C. Persicum var. Red

9 looks like an evergreen viburnum V tinus aka laurustinus (but not so sure on this one)

2 - I'd have suggested crocus opened unusually wide but I'm sure you'd have recognised that. But try C. vernus 'Queen of the Blues'
 
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Retron
15 February 2024 15:49:52

4 is not a rowan but a prunus, probably cherry plum P. cerasifera
5 is cyclamen, C. Persicum var. Red
9 looks like an evergreen viburnum V tinus aka laurustinus (but not so sure on this one)
2 - I'd have suggested crocus opened unusually wide but I'm sure you'd have recognised that. But try C. vernus 'Queen of the Blues'
 

Originally Posted by: DEW 


Thank you for the info! You're a font of knowledge, and a reminder that I really should have paid more attention to what my mum was telling me back in the day.

5, the cyclamen, was planted by my mum in the 90s. I remember her going on about a "sicklamen", as it sounded to me, but had forgotten all about it until you jogged my memory. She may have died 23 years ago, but the flower she planted lives on.

Similarly the others are in the extra bit of land I purchased, my late neighbour's garden. Number 4 is interesting, as the flowers look very similar to those which have appeared on what I'd assumed was a rowan (in my original garden, self-seeded), but I suspect it's actually the same type of tree - I've a feeling quite a lot of seeds from next door have landed in my garden over the years!

As for 9, I hadn't realised there was such a thing as an evergreen viburnum. I've a regular viburnum in the front garden (planted in 1992 by my mum, and now a good 4 metres tall), but of course that's just bare at the moment. Number 9 was planted around the base of a fruiting cherry tree by my neighbour, and despite being cut right back when I had a new fence put in, it's growing back exceptionally quickly!

I can't remember whether I've posted it before, but if not - here's a new one for you, which I'm relieved to say has made it through the winter. It's cleyera japonica var japonica, and there's only one place in the UK which sells that variety. There are only a handful of these in the whole of the country!
It's the sacred tree of Shintoism, and I thought it went well with the Japan-themed elements of my garden.

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/12.jpg 
UserPostedImage

I bought it from here:

https://panglobalplants.com/product/cleyera-japonica-var-japonica/ 

...and I highly recommend that company if you're after anything unusual or rare... they have all sorts of interesting plants on their site!
Leysdown, north Kent
DEW
  • DEW
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15 February 2024 16:02:17
Rowans have a dense cluster of flowers (they look like an umbel as in cow parsley but are not actually so), certainly not the isolated ones in your photo, and come along much later.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Retron
15 February 2024 16:32:44

Rowans have a dense cluster of flowers (they look like an umbel as in cow parsley but are not actually so), certainly not the isolated ones in your photo, and come along much later.

Originally Posted by: DEW 


That's good to know! I'll keep an eye out to see what the leaves are like when they appear (I think they're alternate, rather than opposite) and I'll do an ID check when I can.
Leysdown, north Kent
Bolty
18 February 2024 13:19:29
Things starting to move along here now, unsurprisingly earlier than normal due to the mildness. The daffodils, crocuses and primroses are in flower and the clematis is starting to show fresh shoots too.

My tomato seedlings are coming along nicely on the windowsill too.
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Bertwhistle
20 February 2024 10:55:47

We still have two weeks left of winter, but you'd be forgiven for thinking spring has arrived. Not only is it 15C, not only are the pigeons nesting in the trees, but on a quick tour of the garden I've found all of these! If anyone knows what the ???s are, I'd be interested to know!

Plum tree - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/1.jpg 


??? - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/2.jpg 


Mini daffodils (out for over a week) - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/3.jpg 


Mountain ash / rowan - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/4.jpg 
UserPostedImage

??? - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/5.jpg 


Tulips - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/6.jpg 
UserPostedImage

Violets - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/7.jpg 


Snowdrops - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/8.jpg 


??? (some sort of shrub, I think) - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/9.jpg 


Hazel catkins - https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/10.jpg 


...and a hoverfly, resting on a granite wolf. There are plenty of "bluebottle" flies about, and I heard a buzz of a bumblebee too!
https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/feb/11.jpg 

Originally Posted by: Retron 


Some really nice photos- our garden is ahead of its time similarly.
The tree flowers look very similar to our plum tree- and if that's the trunk behind it could well be a dessert plum. Ours bears yellow fruits ripening to yellow with a rust-coloured blush.
The tulips are actually crocuses also.
Bertie, Itchen Valley.
Retire while you can still press the 'retire now' button.
NMA
  • NMA
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08 March 2024 06:42:25
I was able to cut the grass yesterday in the drying easterly. Garden looks tidier and I did the edges through which the blackbirds, robin, sparrows starlings enjoyed hunting for grubs etc once I'd finished.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
NMA
  • NMA
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14 April 2024 07:48:07
Since it’s begun drying up, I’ve also begun to notice the local cats have returned to make sunny spot a midden. I bought some garlic cat repellent yesterday and this did the trick last night. The garden now has a remarkably strong fragrance of garlic. Works for vampires too I’ve read, which is a bonus.

Beginning to get a bit too dry for successful nocturnal mollusc hunts. The best time is one of those damp evenings with light rain and mid to high teens temps. I could cease all pest preventative measures as the RSPCA suggest David but I prefer a garden where I’m enjoying a beer and not tickling rats under the chin to make them giggle. In any case, what is the disease that rats carry?
Maybe someone's been watching too much Ratatouille.

Back to the slugs, is a biological nematode mollusc based pogrom arguably as ‘cruel’ as squashing them?
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
StoneCroze
14 April 2024 08:05:15
Been cutting lawns all winter, not unusual for us.

Sweet peppers have gone mad, I had a nightmare last year with all manner of seedlings. Eventually worked out it was some dodgy compost.
Anyway, sowed sweet pepper seed back in early January, some now have flowers but I suspect too cold at night to transfer to greenhouse for final planting out as last night temp. dropped down to 9.6C.
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
NMA
  • NMA
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17 April 2024 05:52:34
Another dividend of the restrictions of frictionless trade the Govt promised us.
Garden centres and nurseries are stockpiling plants before Brexit checks are introduced later this month, amid concerns over whether new border posts will be ready to deal with the volume of deliveries.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/17/garden-centres-in-uk-stockpile-plants-before-new-brexit-checks 
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Caz
  • Caz
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17 April 2024 06:47:07
The mild weather has certainly brought on the flora in my neck of the woods.  Bluebells are flowering a week or two earlier than usual here.  Our Hawthorn tree is also a couple of weeks ahead with buds ready to open, although I suspect they’ll hold back a little now it’s turned cooler. 

Last week I had a visit from someone who lives near Manchester and she was saying how much more advanced the trees are here.  
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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DEW
  • DEW
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17 April 2024 06:54:55

The mild weather has certainly brought on the flora in my neck of the woods.  Bluebells are flowering a week or two earlier than usual here.  Our Hawthorn tree is also a couple of weeks ahead with buds ready to open, although I suspect they’ll hold back a little now it’s turned cooler. 

Last week I had a visit from someone who lives near Manchester and she was saying how much more advanced the trees are here.  

Originally Posted by: Caz 



What a difference a hundred (or two hundred) miles makes!

I recorded the the first bluebells near here on 24th March; the hawthorn and wild cherry have both been out for a week or two.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
+1
NMA
  • NMA
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20 April 2024 07:00:30
This story made me chuckle.
Garden grasses guru awarded rare RHS medal
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xld39y8lo 
UserPostedImage
Neil Lucas (left) received the medal from RHS president Keith Weed

 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
DEW
  • DEW
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20 April 2024 07:48:35
The worry over the next week or so is that with unusually cold air spreading across Britain, then if the wind falls light there could be some severely damaging frosts. The apple blossom is well started now ...
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
NMA
  • NMA
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20 April 2024 10:10:53

The worry over the next week or so is that with unusually cold air spreading across Britain, then if the wind falls light there could be some severely damaging frosts. The apple blossom is well started now ...

Originally Posted by: DEW 


Indeed David. What's unusual too is that I began watering some pots a week or so ago. Those recent gales and strong winds dessicated some plants in the garden. It is pleasant enough in a suntrap but the shade is another world. And when the sun goes down it's uncomfortable outside.
 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
+1
Windy Willow
23 April 2024 07:47:09
Apparently it's been dry, for at least week, in this part of Cornwall. The farm we're staying on is about to put their cows on to grass today (and they're gorgeous looking cows and calves! Their two bulls are also big handsome beasts too) and the other local farms have started to get crops in the ground.
 
I wasn't sure where else to post this so hope it's not too off topic! I'm just so impressed and interested, you can tell they put in a lot of effort here to keep on top of things, that there's not even a whiff of a smell (well maybe just a little bit, and I mean just a little, it's not even noticeable) as our accommodation is adjacent to the cattle barns and I got to see them all have their "dinner" last evening. 😊
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

Don't feed the Trolls!! When starved of attention they return to their dark caves or the dark recesses of bridges and will turn back to stone, silent again!
+3
fairweather
23 April 2024 10:28:11
The wind, low DPs and a dryish couple of weeks have brought back the problems of last Spring. If you sew seeds they need watering now and the tenperature is checking anything that germinates. However last April was similar and went on to be a bumper year on the allotment. I think the secret is to delay everything till later as October's seem warmer than May these days so the growing period is just later.
S.Essex, 42m ASL
DEW
  • DEW
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23 April 2024 10:44:36
People are complaining about a cold April but the trees in flower seem to have taken their cue from earlier mild weather. The foxglove tree (Paulownia) which I can see from my window is well into bloom. A few miles inland at West Dean, despite being in something of a frost hollow, the Paulownia there is just starting into bloom.

In Kent, and 30 years ago, the foxglove tree in the school grounds rarely flowered before late May, typically in half term so only a few people ever got to see it.
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
NMA
  • NMA
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23 April 2024 11:55:03
The thing is, perhaps we've got too used to Spring being a 'warm' month. But to reach May without reaching 21C this far south would still be notable in my book. A week to go.
Yesterday was almost bleak with a high of 8C and light rain through the day. Today is better at 12.9C with complete cloud cover.
It's odd seeing almost summer like vegetation, the oaks are almost in full leaf but feeling chilly.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
StoneCroze
26 April 2024 11:18:20
In the same vein as the above posts. I've finally decided to transplant sweet peppers out into the greenhouse. They have been grown from seed in a propagator from 3rd January but just too cold to transplant. They already have flowers on and were well rootbound, will have to see what happens.
I've also sown melon, courgette and cucumber seed this morning. Tomato seedlings on a heat pad in the potting shed are coming along slowly. 
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
NMA
  • NMA
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30 April 2024 08:58:22
It's a different year to last April.
Last year, my wisteria was in full bloom on the 12th of April. This year it's in half bud.
There are two ash trees on a green outside, hardly a leaf, though healthy ones for the moment.

The oaks around here are in near enough full leaf.
As good as a test as any this year for the old saying when the oak is out before the ash and all that.
If it's true, it means we are in for a dry summer. We'll see.


 
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Sasa
  • Sasa
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30 April 2024 09:17:36

In the same vein as the above posts. I've finally decided to transplant sweet peppers out into the greenhouse. They have been grown from seed in a propagator from 3rd January but just too cold to transplant. They already have flowers on and were well rootbound, will have to see what happens.
I've also sown melon, courgette and cucumber seed this morning. Tomato seedlings on a heat pad in the potting shed are coming along slowly. 

Originally Posted by: StoneCroze 



My pepper plants have been in the greenhouse for the past 2 weeks now but no flower buds yet.

Tomatoes seeds I always saw 3rd week in Feb and they too have been in the  greenhouse for the  last 2 - 3 weeks and survived chilly 3c no problem,

Planting out tomato plants this weekend, probably Monday
Kingston Upon Thames
StoneCroze
03 May 2024 12:48:16
Runner beans sown this morning. Mangetout tomorrow. 
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
Caz
  • Caz
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03 May 2024 15:37:27
On 17th April, I posted that our hawthorn tree was in bud and suspected the coming cold spell would hold it back.  It certainly did but the warm weather we’ve had this week has brought it into full bloom. It’s so full of blossom, it’s almost luminous and is the best I’ve seen it in almost 40 years.  It has a very delicate scent as well, that I’ve never noticed before.  At least I think that’s what I’m smelling.  
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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Caz
  • Caz
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05 May 2024 17:40:13
The very delicate scent of hawthorn is now a less pleasant stronger smell.  It’s been a warm 20c today, I suspect that’s the reason. 
Market Warsop, North Nottinghamshire.
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