Whats Looking Good in January..

I think that the crocuses are C. tomasinianus which come from the east coast of the Adriatic. I nearly always prefer species plants to cultivated ones.

Hellebores like rich soil, but much of mine is too wet during the winter. I grow some on a raised bed above my winter floods and two more in my front garden where I have slightly better drainage. They are members of the buttercup family as are the hardy geraniums which I specialise in. Oh well - you can't win them all!

 

Your pictures are wonderful - those hellebores are just amazing. I only have one - the flowers are pretty non-descript and they are so near the ground that the leaves soon grow up and obliterate them completely. The foliage looks good contrasting with the lush rounded hosta though - so have left it in!

Loving your crocus too! What a sight for sore eyes!

 

Worth a closer look! Crocuses, snowdrops and hellebores all need you to get down on your knees to appreciate their beauty.

 

True HB, that's why I didn't notice my Irises till today as they are only 6ins high. :D

 

Watch where you tread!

 

Gorgeous, Pal! I love the winter aconites! :D

 

All so depressing.
Best looking thing in our garden at present is me. And that's not worth a photo :(

 

These crocuses have self seeded from the garden above the wall and are growing in a crack between the wall and the pavement. A main road thunders by just a few feet away!



I could get hooked on snowdrops!

 

A single hydrangea bloom in Central Scotland in January.

Unheard of in years gone by but I guess the climate is just so different with January's average temps. the highest since 1916.

I expect the rest of the bush will be along in due course ---- although they are still firmly in the bud stage.

 

My favourite winter flowering shrub - Hamamelis or Witch Hazel. Great for sprains, bruises and other injuries.

 

Buds on this old rose have started to open.
The bush is at least 40 years old. I've no idea of the name though.

 

I know it's February now but hey ho...I've been the garden today and planted some snowdrops(in the green) to try and increase my snowdrop patch, checked over the borders and things are looking up. Lots of crocus's still to come up but these have spread onto my lawn and I have a bud on a new helleborous I planted out last year :D

 

Love those pics Stingo.Well Done

That first one is a cracker.Lovely shades of green,blue and orange.

 

Thanks roders