Snowdrops

I've let this blog slide for a long while - years, in fact - but what better time to revive it than when snowdrops are flowering and Spring seems round the corner.

I've been out and about - to Kedleston and Hopton Hall  - to see snowdrop displays, but the photos here were taken in my garden.

Starting many years ago from a small clump they've spread, by seed, by me dividing and re-planting just after flowering, by birds lifting the shoots in early spring, till they almost circle the back lawn (and a couple of escapees have rooted among the rhubarb).

As the first real sign of Spring (or at least the end of winter) snowdrops are always a welcome sight, and this year they seem to have done exceptionally well. The weather has been kind. They don't mind cold nights, and so far February has been free of snow or heavy rain which can flatten them.

Cheeriness for a dull day

 After a few days of sunshine, gloom has descended again. It feels much colder and a lot more dismal, but at least I have my cheap pot of tete a tete daffodils (from IKEA) to brighten the kitchen....

and snowdrops almost in flower outside

Groundhog Day

The weather on February 2nd, Groundhog Day or Candlemas, is supposed to give an indicator as to how long winter will last; if sunny, winter will return; if gloomy it will be over soon. Well, this year was gloomy but with enough sun to cast shadows at the critical time of 11am. Even without that it's easy to see that the current cold snap is set to continue for a while - last week we had heavy, but brief, snow on Thursday and since then clear cold frosty weather.
I have some snowdrops struggling to come out though - to say how early the buds were showing, the flowers are taking a long while to appear.

 Inside, I have tomatoes, cauliflowers and winter salad leaves set in propagators, and herbs on the windowsill - basil (left) and parsley.

Nearly here....

 I happened to notice today that the snowdrops are very nearly flowering,

so hopefully another day of sunshine and they'll all burst open.

There are even daffodils in bud!

February in the garden - veg

I don't have so many veg in the garden these days - most of it is grown down at the allotment but there are still some bits and pieces, mainly salad crops which at this time of year means spinach....


rocket....









and american land cress

As the veg patch is now supposed to be as decorative as useful, there are a few cabbages and kale around to keep the garden looking 'used' over winter instead of bare.

   

and of course it's the time of year to have summer's crops starting life in the greenhouse - cabbages

a couple of lettuce (the rest eaten by slugs and snails)










and broad beans under the holly which should keep the mice at bay.

February in the garden - flowers

At first glance the garden isn't looking to exciting this month but look closely and the signs of Spring are there.

Snowdrops are waiting to burst into flower any day now with some more sunshine.


The first crocus are peeping through the weeds

The polyanthus have flowered well for most of winter





though something, possibly birds though could be mice, has been eating this pink one.

another all-winter flowerer, the winter jasmine is starting to look bedraggled











as is the hollyhock. I'm hoping this will survive any cold weather still to come and grow to the upstairs windows in summer.

and the oriental poppy is trying, again!, to flower.

More usual signs of Spring are the first flowers on the bergenia

buds on wallflowers

and a solitary pansy

Spring definitely feels like it's on the way - though Groundhog Day/ Candlemas was sunny bright so we should be in for more wintery weather yet.