Despite the frost last week, a long-overdue pop into the garden today revealed almost all the nasturtiums flowering happily. I wonder what the air-min threshold is for these jolly flowers. I expected them to be wilted. We had nearly -1.

Made the most of todays dry and warmish conditions so that's the grass cut and probably the last time this year  

Musa all wrapped up too 

If you haven’t done so yet, plant your garlic cloves now for harvesting next summer.  

Thanks for that reminder, Caz.

We have an orange tree that has often flowered, rarely fruited, never produced large (eg 5cm+) fruits, as it's outside, although south facing. This year we have a handful of fruits of a good size and in the last few days- they've actually started to turn orange. Can you believe it- outside all year, no glass. Happy.

Well, the frost finally got the nasturtiums. Now the garden is returning to a dearthful, if still green, state.

Just cleared the allotment beds, transplanted baby beets and cabbages and planted the garlic. Pulled up one potato and four carrots and recovered two spring onions. Have had one flowering crocus which was already a gonner when we found it- slugged at the stem. Here goes the gardening year again.

Winter-flowering clematis in full swing, also winter-flowering honeysuckle, not to mention a hazel tree full of catkins blowing

Marigolds , Fuchsia, Geranium still flowering. Heather doing well.  Snowdrops are out.Herbs are lasting well. 

Marigolds , Fuchsia, Geranium still flowering. Heather doing well.  Snowdrops are out.Herbs are lasting well. 

no sign of the snowdrops up north yet. I was in London early December and they were in flower in Hyde Park.....

It’s usually February when the snowdrops are out here. If anyone’s around this neck of the woods next month, I can highly recommend a visit to Hodsock Priory, renowned for its carpets of snowdrops!  

It’s usually February when the snowdrops are out here. If anyone’s around this neck of the woods next month, I can highly recommend a visit to Hodsock Priory, renowned for its carpets of snowdrops!  

That's worth noting, Caz, especially for those in the area. Indeed, February is the peak time in the south too- Warnford Church in Hampshire and 'Snowdrop Valley' on Exmoor are two worth a visit.

https://www.hugofox.com/community/warnford-village-7802/events/snowdrop-sunday-70700?preview=c6e9cbf82c734a19963bf542bfe85e48

http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm

 

 

no sign of the snowdrops up north yet. I was in London early December and they were in flower in Hyde Park.....

Just coming into flower out in the Weald near Petworth, well away from any heat island effect.

The grass is longish and tatty, but I'm frightened to cut it so as to see the progress of the crocuses, because I know they're up and I'll trim them too!

Snowdrops are beginning to bloom in our garden; mahonia spotted with yellow (but no bees to lap up that dizzy scent yet); a few primroses and the tops of the rhubarb showing pink. Our ornamental citrus fruits have all turned orange and my experimental will-they-overwinter chillies and peppers are surviving, with one small green pepper yellowing! 

Snowdrops beginning to bloom in our garden as well. And we have a Crocus forcing it`s way up between two paving stones.

Over the past week I’ve managed to get to several places to try and get the perfect snowdrop image. Including Kingston Lacey near Wimborne which has some pretty good views and with the good weather lots of people even during the week enjoying the spectacle. Compton Valence further west was worth a trip as it is only a short drive. How they cope with lots of visitors I have no idea as the roads are quite narrow. Still a pretty good display along the verges and banks that someone must have established at some point. As it was a weekday I was the only person wandering around. Then last of all the churchyard at Turners Puddle near Bere Begis. Here a few bright yellow aconites were flowering. 

One thing common to all was how early the snowdrops are this year. For places in Dorset that are advertising special snowdrop days in mid February I would think they will be past their best by then. The ones I saw were probably at their best last week. However some in our north shaded garden are only just coming into flower whilst ones in sunnier places seem past their peak now. 

And lastly with the mild winter the slugs were having a feast in some places meaning the perfect image close up can be hard to find without the wee beasties appearing in the pictures.

One thing I think many people forget is how snowdrops are not native, being an introduced species and for the best displays need a little or lot of help to maintain the displays. The best time to do this is when they are just finishing and can be transplanted to new spots in the green so to speak Although they do seed as Four mentions and spread this way, splitting existing clumps is perhaps the fastest way to increase them.

Dwarf Iris (reticulata) in flower today's sunshine, in outdoor pots

Over the past week I’ve managed to get to several places to try and get the perfect snowdrop image. Including Kingston Lacey near Wimborne which has some pretty good views and with the good weather lots of people even during the week enjoying the spectacle. Compton Valence further west was worth a trip as it is only a short drive. How they cope with lots of visitors I have no idea as the roads are quite narrow. Still a pretty good display along the verges and banks that someone must have established at some point. As it was a weekday I was the only person wandering around. Then last of all the churchyard at Turners Puddle near Bere Begis. Here a few bright yellow aconites were flowering. 

One thing common to all was how early the snowdrops are this year. For places in Dorset that are advertising special snowdrop days in mid February I would think they will be past their best by then. The ones I saw were probably at their best last week. However some in our north shaded garden are only just coming into flower whilst ones in sunnier places seem past their peak now. 

And lastly with the mild winter the slugs were having a feast in some places meaning the perfect image close up can be hard to find without the wee beasties appearing in the pictures.

One thing I think many people forget is how snowdrops are not native, being an introduced species and for the best displays need a little or lot of help to maintain the displays. The best time to do this is when they are just finishing and can be transplanted to new spots in the green so to speak Although they do seed as Four mentions and spread this way, splitting existing clumps is perhaps the fastest way to increase them.

It's lovely to hear all those place names I am so familiar with. The side-roads between Bridport and Beaminster, a bit further west, where my father lives, should by shiny with snowdrops now. We have plenty up- but our usually most prolific clump has just three pert blooms.

Crocuses flowering today in my lawns in that cold sunshine = 28.