Things are changing all around us in the wider world constantly so how comforting to know that in the garden the natural cycle continues in the normal way.
January means hellebores and snowdrops in our garden. The first clump of snowdrops flowering is Galanthus S. Arnott, always the first and this one stays in flower for weeks. Galanthus nivalis is just starting to pop up in the spring garden beds and in the lawn on that side of the garden. Every few years we divide up the clumps of this snowdrop and re-plant, trying to create a swathe of flowers running along under the oak and silver birch trees. I now have to be careful where I tread on this side of the garden as I don’t want to break the emerging buds. The entire area is currently fenced off to prevent the dogs hurtling through the spring bulbs scattering flower heads in their wake.
Winter flowering shrubs are coming into flower, Hamamelis intermedia Feuerzauber is covered in deep orange flowers and has a very delicate scent. It was a treat to work in the garden recently near to the Sarcococca hookeriana, this has such a strong scent. Lonicera fragrantissima is a very straggly shrub which has very little to offer throughout most of the year, however right now it is covered in tiny flowers which again are scented. After flowering I will cut it right back so that it doesn’t outgrow its space.
It’s so encouraging to see so many signs of new life in the garden with buds forming on trees and shrubs and bulbs pushing through the ground, however we mustn’t forget it’s still winter! The temperature was minus 6 degrees last night and I still haven’t plucked up courage to open the greenhouse door. The overwintering cuttings and pelargoniums have been tucked up under two layers of horticultural fleece so I’m hoping everything has survived. After a heavy snowfall first thing yesterday, and more in the evening the borders are under a deep blanket. I have no concerns at all for the herbaceous perennials that are currently dormant, the snow is providing an extra layer of warmth and ultimately, when it melts, extra moisture. The sun is currently shining and I’m eager to get outside and do something useful. There are three shrubs growing in a bed in the centre of the drive that are earmarked for being moved but I think this may need to wait for another day….. although if I can get a fork into one of the compost heaps I might be able to put them into large pots for the time being….
Maybe the best job for a day such as this though is to sort through my seed packets and put them in some sort of order so that I don’t get left behind and forget to sow any. The heated propagator has been scrubbed clean and is currently in the utility room awaiting its first seed trays. I’m going to attempt to grow more than ever from seed this year so I think a planned approach will be best.
Tales from a Country Garden 