Oooh - I've Spotted Something Else Growing...

snowdrops...

winter aconites at the back of the sheds...and lonely crocus in LB2









LB12 - stepping stones/rockery. Frost-coated thmyes and viola above. I am a little concerned about the pulsatillas - I could see signs of life on only one.


LB12 - bottom. The small shrubs seem to have survived. The daphnes (see stick in centre photo - daphne mezereum) appear to have buds so hopefully there will be heavenly perfume soon. And the tulips are coming.

High bank. This does not get any sun at this time of year so the frost/snow/hail doesn't really ever go away. But the snowdrops don't seem to care, and the autumn crocuses are putting on a spurt of growth now.







The corkscrew hazel that is still waiting to be planted has some small catkins. The white patches on the lawn are not frost, but dead grass from the prolonged covering in snow.

And the hellebore that Janet gave me is surpassing itself despite a life of neglect in a bucket. I promise to plant it in the garden this year...



Finally,

'And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers'

for this truly wondrous Japanese anemone seed head:

Snowdrops Are Us

Townmouse may have beaten me to the first snowdrop of the year but I have volume :)

Spurred on by another mild day on Thursday I was back out in the garden, this time clearing the high bank. Three hours later and the snowdrops are no longer hidden by the autumn debris.

The snowdrops in LB1 have clumped up well. They look particularly beautiful next to the pink winter heather.

Also spotted the first crocuses in flower in LB2. Spring is just around the corner. You can almost hear the bulbs bursting through the ground.

The winter aconites that David gave me have survived despite my neglecting them for over a year. I hope they like their home at the back of the sheds and increase.

The last time I looked at the weather forecast Tuesday looks like the next 'gardening weather' day.

Coming up next: prune the fruit bushes, divide/transplant snowdrops from the bottom of the drive to LB4 and the trellis bed bank. Another nine years, allowing for the extension of the long bank, before I have snowdrops all the way along it...