Colour to raise the spirits.

A rise in the temperature and the once barren winter garden 

now has a few more colourful highlights to cheer the spirits.

 I'm not sure how but the dainty heads of Cyclamen have popped up 

in the most unexpected parts of the garden .... quite some way from
their original location!

At the moment the Hellebores are all hanging their faces downwards 

so I had to prop them up to take these pics!
I'm still waiting for the darkest hybrid to open up.

A small group of Crocus ... regretfully not a patch on the swathes of blue all around my Mother's garden.

I am dedicating this post to my Mum who has had to put up with my very demanding one-legged Father for the past four months but whose mobility is now much improved. Last Wednesday he returned home after only his 16th daily visit to Roehampton with a NEW artificial LEG. He stepped out of his wheelchair and walked upright (still using 2 walking sticks) into the kitchen for the first time in many, many months with the widest grin I have ever seen on his face .... just hope this happy phase continues.

Of course, this is only anther stage in his amazing recovery .... he now must continue to build up the strength in his other leg so that he can safetly negotiate the steps and stairs to enable him to sleep upstairs .... I have no doubts that it won't take him long.

P.S. I have now heard that he has already climbed the stairs to survey what will soon be his new sleeping arrangements after we make some minor layout changes .... now if only the Local Authorities would get their act together and provide the equipment he desperately needs he might even be able to safely use the upstairs bathroom facilities and also access the garden in the not too distant future.

And ... to  Shirleyanne (one of my earliest blogging friends) and to Cheryl (a very accomplished and inspiring wildlife gardener) who are both going through a tough phase at the moment .... so if you have a moment please drop in on them and say 'hello'. I do hope this will lift their spirits as they continue to deal with the extra demands currently placed upon all of them.   FAB.

February Flowers.

The weather over the past few days has been typically grey so little opportunity to capture any wildlife pics so I spent a few hours in the garden doing some much needed tidying up, pruning etc.

The Hellebores (Orientalis hybrids) which continue to self seed either side of the path are slowly opening up and showing off their varied petal forms. I'm still waiting for the really dark forms to open up to see if any new patterns emerge.

Elsewhere there are a few early Narcissus starting to bloom, Cyclamen hederifolium, various small clumps of  Snowdrops; this one is Galathus woronowii  and the Lion Mask (hand-pressed by you know who ... courtesy of Whichford Pottery) is now uncovered and patiently waiting for the sun to shine.

Just for a bit of fun I took this close up of something that needed serious pruning as most of its entaglement was hanging into my neighbours garden although it will mean a reduction in flowers this spring it will benefit in the long run. I'm sure all the gardeners out there will easily identify this climber from the cross-section of this very old stem.   FAB. 

Battleston Hill....winter interest

A dull overcast day with the hint of damp in the air. Most of the avian activity at work was centred around the seed feeders so I took a brief stroll onto Battleston Hill and my attention was quickly grabbed by the sight and fragrance emanating from the Hamamelis (Witch hazels) so time for a few quick snaps.......

Hamamelis 'Pallida'

Hamamelis 'Bokshop'

Battleston Hill is a woodland area (see previous post ' a lunchtime stroll) and at this time of year the leaves of the hardy Cyclamen carpet the feet around the trees

Cyclamen coum


Examples of seed heads that provide 'winter interest' on Hydrangea & Agapanthus

This is also a good time of year to follow the "Bark Trail" when the tree trunks show off their naked beauty, such as Acer griseum .......

and two of the many varieties of Eucalyptus
E ucalypyus dalrymplena

Eucalyptus globulus

Just a pity I couldn't spend longer away from work but I had to return in order to attend my 'annual appraisal' with BC............no worries....... as always there were no real surprises except there will not be much in the pot for annual pay rises after such a difficult trading year. Let's hope for better weather this spring.