Saturday 7 January 2012

Blooming Winter

It's been, so far, a mild winter this year; no need to shuffle about cursing the cold so in this instance the title's 'blooming ' refers to flowers.
Although it is the ideal time to admire the architecture of the leafless branches, it can be quite rewarding to perversely seek out flowers. They take some seeking this time of the year as the petals are tiny and more subtly coloured than those of the other seasons.  Even though the wind and the frost make their marks,  there is always something a little unexpected; flowering early or still hanging on from the previous seasons.

 Viburnum as planted by Mother Nature, and I am delighted she selected one with pink and white flowers.

 This is the time of year when I most appreciate the ground cover of the bergenia. Most of the time I feel it warrants the name Elephants Ears as the leaves tend to sprawl carelessly over the space I try to confine it to. But now these pink petals add colour, even if they are somewhat nibbled at the edges.

Clematis Cirrhosa 'Wisley Cream' planted for its winter flowers rambling up the trellis on the front of the house.

A
At its feet a clump of leucojum or Snowflakes, appearing very early.

And hanging on way too late, when there simply won't be enough light and warmth, even on the sunniest of days, to open these weather beaten buds, is Souvenir de la Malmaison, determined to display the last roses of the season.
But of course this time of the year is really snowdrop time, and sure enough, here they come pushing their way up through the leaf mould and the last vestiges of the grass.