January is all but over so a diary update is called for. I can't say that I've done that much in the way of actual gardening. A combination of days of grey grim weather and other matters have been responsible but there has been some behind the scenes activity. A January birthday called for a garden centre visit. Here unlike most of the other customers I resisted the compulsion to make a beeline for the bargain price festive paraphernalia. We headed straight for the outside and plants and it was so sad to see that just after 11.00am we were the only people out there for a while. Still it was pleasant to be able to browse comfortably. I came home with the above helleborus 'Lily' which in fact was not the one I intended to purchase. I was guilty of not checking the label as it was a flowering helleborus 'Tutu' which had grabbed my attention. I was guilty of just seeing colour and not looking carefully enough. Still it's a pleasant enough plant. A couple of witch hazels also landed in my trolley - 'Ruby Glow' and 'Jelena' thanks to a garden gift voucher from my dear sister. I also bought a modest amount of half price seeds. In the last couple of weeks or so more packets of seeds have arrived in the post mainly of sweet peas. I think that I'm more or less done now on the seed purchasing front but I've said that before. Shallots 'Red Sun' and seed potatoes in the shape of the salad potato 'Charlotte' have also arrived. The greatest source of pleasure this month for me this month has been my collection of special snowdrops both those grown in pots under cover as well as in the garden. Below are a couple of newcomers. The first is 'Hans Guck' In die luft (which translates as 'Johnny-Head-In -The-Air') - new arrival this year whilst the second' Green Of Hearts' is a 2021 arrival.
During the past week we had a couple of blissful hours when it almost seemed like spring and the greenhouse temperature warmed up encourage a couple of pots of iris reticulata 'Pauline' and a
pot of crocus 'Firefly' to show colour. Magical!
Beautiful snowdrops photos, I think some of our hellebores need replenishing,
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue. It sounds as if you got the perfect reason to indulge in some horticultural retail therapy 😂
DeleteI understand how gray skies can have a dulling effect on your enthusiasm for digging into the garden, Anna. I went to sleep last night and woke up this morning with the intent of getting to work on my back slope but the combination of gray clouds and the dampness of the marine layer have kep me me in my office at my PC all morning. Perhaps I'll get to work after lunch! I think your new hellebore is beautiful, as are the snowdrops. I love to see closeups comparing the latter as it helps me appreciate their differences.
ReplyDeleteI find that grey skies do little for my energy levels Kris and when combined with cold inside seems a much more inviting option. Hope that you managed to get out in the afternoon. Snowdrops may look all just white from a distance but when you get closer a good number of them are unique in their markings 😀
ReplyDeleteBeautiful to see color and blooms in someone's garden!
ReplyDeleteHope that it isn't a long wait for you Donna 😀
DeleteI like the hellebore you bought by mistake, lovely colour and markings! Snowdrops are all opening in the woodland now, soon it will be white everywhere, I'm enjoying all my "specials"!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pauline. I was a bit miffed at first but soon recovered my equilibrium. It's a most exciting time of the year!
DeleteI find 'Lily' rather striking, Anna, and of course your snowdrops are most beautiful. 'Hans guck in die Luft' is a must have for the name alone ��. Snowdrops here are taking their time due to a very frosty January. Happy February days xx
ReplyDeleteYes it's a most fetching name indeed Annette. Hope that you will soon be walking through that snowdrop wood. Enjoy February 😀
DeleteA belated Happy Birthday, and how lovely to choose these plants. The snowdrops are delightful. The sun today as well as the mild weather will have meant your snowdrops will have opened up. I spied a bee visiting the blooms this morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the birthday greetings Noelle. Just a couple of days or so behind you with that first bee of the year sighting 😀
DeleteOoh, what a lovely name for that snowdrop! The hellebore is really pretty. Belated birthday wishes Anna. A trip to a garden centre is a great way to celebrate. My Iris have just started to sprout, but no sunshine to tempt them to flower yet!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. Hopefully that sunshine will soon be persuading the irises to reveal their pretty faces.
DeleteWhat lovely new aquisitions you have, Anna - such a pretty hellebore, even it wasn't the one you wanted! My H 'Ruby Glow' is flowering in amber this year as it sometimes does! You must be thrilled to have Hans Guck!
ReplyDelete'Ruby Glow'sounds most intriguing Cathy. I am delighted to welcome young Hans 😂
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit late with this, but belated birthday wishes and what great choices for your winter garden. A fabulous hellebore.
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