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Gardening

A glimmer of early spring! Colour in the garden

(58 Posts)
whitewave Fri 12-Dec-14 09:53:38

Saw some catkins today on our walk - about 1" long so waiting in the wings for early spring. Shall keep my eye on them.

The only colour in my garden is cream from winter clematis, which whilst not very showy is visited by loads of bumbles when the weather is OK, and the only other thing at the moment is winter iris which is a glorious shade of sky blue. Keep looking to see how the snowdrops are doing - about 11/2" above the ground at the moment.

whenim64 Tue 06-Jan-15 10:40:52

Shoots all over my garden, wood pigeons hanging around in pairs and a blue tit looking in one of my bird boxes yesterday. It's very spring-like at the moment, quite warm today.

Rowantree Tue 06-Jan-15 17:21:12

I'm in Shirley, Surrey. My Viburnum is blooming too, but not prolifically. My Witch hazels are just bursting into flower and winter honeysuckle's been flowering its socks off for the last month. Lots of green bulb shoots - I'm keeping anxious watch for them as neighbourhood cats keep crapping on them and scratching them up angry

Rowantree Tue 06-Jan-15 17:22:53

I LOVE winter flowering plants- trying to plant more of them. Forgot the mahonias, which have done well but mine seem to be finishing now! I will go down to my little woodland garden tomorrow and see what else is happening smile

annodomini Tue 06-Jan-15 17:35:48

I need to plant a new witch hazel because a man I employed to dig my garden managed to destroy it. Grrrrr

Iam64 Tue 06-Jan-15 17:50:04

I've just covered the clematis with fleece, having only taken it off 2 days ago. I thought it was a goner when we had lots of snow and freezing temps about 3 winters ago, but it rallied in response to lots of tlc and a good prune. We're in the north west and the warm summer and autumn have fooled lots of things that usually appear in February to pop their heads above the soil.

Any tips on protecting clematis?

whitewave Tue 06-Jan-15 18:07:53

Should have thought that as long as your protect the roots - you don't need to protect the top unless it is a winter clematis in which case they are tender and will need the fleece and a few crossed fingers.

Iam64 Tue 06-Jan-15 18:45:25

Oh No! I meant camellia, sorry whitewave, this is what happens when I take a phone call from my lovely daughter and press send before reading my post.

Can I ask again - camellia protection? I put a large sheet of plastic over the roots during the last spell of frost. Does that sound effective?

whitewave Tue 06-Jan-15 18:47:52

What you shouldn't do is plant it so that the early morning sun gets to the buds That way it defrosts too quickly and ruins the flowers. So I would plant it in a west facing direction and if necessary fleece if it gets too cold

Iam64 Tue 06-Jan-15 19:24:25

It's in the back garden, which gets the sun from mid day so that's reassuring. Thanks whitewave - fleece on as it's predicted frost tonight and storms tomorrow. Still at least it's getting lighter in the afternoonsmile

whitewave Tue 06-Jan-15 19:27:29

It isn't here - where are you then? I am on the South Coast and it appears to be getting darker than lighter!! confused

rubylady Wed 07-Jan-15 02:08:57

New garden, new plants. I want some trailing plants in this one, any ideas?

Bulbs coming up in tubs from old house, could be snowdrops or crocus? We're in the North West too.

Iam64 Wed 07-Jan-15 09:56:55

North West whitewave, where I suspect we have generally darker days than on the south coast (I know we do, having lived in both areas). Our theme tune near Manchester is 'always look on the bright side of life' - I'm increasingly convinced it's because we have to!

vampirequeen Wed 07-Jan-15 10:39:47

I've still got geraniums in flower. They don't seem to realise it's winter.

janerowena Wed 07-Jan-15 11:34:58

Iam it depends on the variety, some are more tender than others. I have a few camellias and they need nothing at all, but then stupidly bought an autumn-flowering one because I had always wanted one. As I live in an utter frost-pocket and they are more tender, it was very stupid of me but I SO coveted them when I saw them... So it is still in a pot under the eaves of the house until is gets bigger. If you are worried, an old net curtain or some horticultural fleece pegged over it is fine.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Jan-15 11:50:26

I don't want colour in the garden yet. I want the hibernating time to go on for as long as it should do.

whitewave Wed 07-Jan-15 11:55:55

ruby when you say trailing plants where do you intend to put them?

janerowena Wed 07-Jan-15 12:04:45

Yes, meant to ask. Trailing as in hanging, or climbing, or ground-covering?

tiggypiro Wed 07-Jan-15 18:23:20

I have crocus in flower. They are the species variety (pale purple) not the blousy orange or purple ones. They are super as they naturalise easily and the garden will be covered before too long. I did have an aconite out too until Purdy Puss thought it looked exciting. The hellebores and primulas are also doing well. No snowdrops yet and daffs just about pushing through.

Iam64 Wed 07-Jan-15 18:32:22

Thanks janerowena, mine is a spring flowering camellia, it's gorgeous when healthy which is was last spring and summer. I suspect the odd warm weather has led it to bud early. Fleece at the ready, though it's muggy and raining hard currently

littleflo Thu 08-Jan-15 10:03:44

Here in East London, I have roses in flower. I normally prune in autumn but was not able to last year. this is a nice reward. Hope it won't affect this years flowers.

Tinkerbell2208 Thu 08-Jan-15 12:36:35

My wallflowers - grown from seed last July - are coming into flower just at the tops !! Little flash of colour is most welcome ! ( Staffordshire )

Elegran Thu 08-Jan-15 12:44:39

I have mini-cyclamen in flower all over the rockery - but they have been blooming for months non-stop.

ninathenana Thu 08-Jan-15 16:02:45

Winter pansies are still looking good also primroses and a couple of geraniums with flowers still. Bulbs have sprouted but no buds yet. We do have snowdrops but haven't inspected them recently.

We're in S.E.

annodomini Sat 07-Feb-15 14:23:56

My Cornus Mas is just bursting into bloom with its yellow pom-poms. It's a welcome patch of colour in a dark corner of the garden. The snowdrops are quite rampant now!

granjura Sat 07-Feb-15 16:00:36

With over 6' of snow in the garden- not many signs of Spring right now ;)

Although on my walk this afteroon, I saw some catkins opening up on a large willow tree- that will have to do for a while!