Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: New shoot on December 31, 2017, 18:52

Title: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on December 31, 2017, 18:52
I love the early spring flowers almost better than anything and my beady eye has sought out snowdrops and other bulbs pushing their way up.  I also have hellebore buds arching up out of the earth and euphorbia sporting those little top knots on their stems that are the forerunner to colourful bracts.

My best find today however was spring cyclamen in flower  :D   Too dark for a piccy when I spotted them, but I shall try for one tomorrow.

Have you got any flowers yet?
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: jaydig on January 01, 2018, 10:09
We have the odd one or two primroses smiling at us from corners of the garden, and I know it isn't strictly a spring flower, but the winter flowering honeysuckle shrub is blooming away to its heart's content, and smells lovely.
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Eblana on January 01, 2018, 11:32
I have two snowdrops in flower
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on January 01, 2018, 16:20
Roll on spring and more flowers. I spotted the first crocus bud today as well  :D
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: snowdrops on January 01, 2018, 17:42
I spotted 1 of the hellebores flower buds today, then I removed 2 potted canna lilies from on top of the snowdrop patch...I’m sure they’ll grow & flower much better without them on top😢. Not sure that the cannas will survive being out in the frost & snow though.
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on January 11, 2018, 10:51
The selection this morning :

A lone crocus - these have naturalised everywhere and I can see them emerging, so hopefully the whole bed will be a haze of pretty purple soon  :D

Daffs that have wandered through the fence from next door

A hellebore bud full of promise  :D

Snowdrops in full bud now

Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: sunshineband on January 11, 2018, 13:18
Hellebores in bud, snowdrops out and Christmas Box now too
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Growster... on January 11, 2018, 16:23
First few snowdrops seem to have appeared in the last day or so, and are just turning up in the churchyard behind us as well.

We've also had a periwinkle going throughout the winter too...

Hellebores will be next, and big white snowdrop types but a foot tall (can't remember what they are)!
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: sunshineband on January 12, 2018, 09:34
Snowflakes perhaps, Growster?

Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Growster... on January 13, 2018, 18:15
Snowflakes perhaps, Growster?

Yup, they're the ones Sunny, thank you!
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on January 25, 2018, 20:24
The hellebores are flowering and I found the first primrose out today  :D
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: snowdrops on January 25, 2018, 21:44
Finally went down the garden the other day & found the Snowdrops were just beginning to flower,then a hellebore was open.
Today in the churchyard there were a few snowdrops too, then on the way Home I noticed a Ceanothus that hangs over a garden wall ,just beginning to show the blue of some of its flowers
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Silva on February 11, 2018, 20:18
It's a bit sad how much of a kick I get out of seeing the first spring flowers!
My potted snowdrops are gradually starting to wake up but the neighbours' garden, which seemingly isn't tended at all, has an enormous patch. I also walk past one house that has loads of lovely crocuses which is the only place round here I've seen them, I wonder why that is...
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on February 12, 2018, 10:47
My 'wild' crocus are budding up beautifully now, plus the hellebores and spring cyclamen are going great guns.

I also walk past one house that has loads of lovely crocuses which is the only place round here I've seen them, I wonder why that is...

No idea, but mine arrived for free and have spread everywhere without any intervention from me.  If you want a few, I can easily send you some once the leaves have died down.  Drop me a pm with your address. They are tiny corms, but they spread like mad and self seed as well (you have been warned)  :lol:
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: snowdrops on February 12, 2018, 11:16
I spied some crocus in the park today on our walk into Hinckley,a real treat, good job they didn’t mind the snow lol
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: mumofstig on February 12, 2018, 11:37
I've got shoots where the Bluebells (Spanish and native) are, I've got some shoots where the Snowdrops are, I've got Tulip shoots and even shoots where the Alliums are - but none where the Daffs should be  :ohmy: and not a single flower to be seen  ::)
The earliest bulbs seem a bit late here  :wacko: but the Hellebores are flowering well since I split them apart  :D
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Silva on February 12, 2018, 16:56
I also walk past one house that has loads of lovely crocuses which is the only place round here I've seen them, I wonder why that is...

No idea, but mine arrived for free and have spread everywhere without any intervention from me.  If you want a few, I can easily send you some once the leaves have died down.  Drop me a pm with your address. They are tiny corms, but they spread like mad and self seed as well (you have been warned)  :lol:

Thank you! However, my home garden is just a tiny concrete yard with a few containers and, based on your description, I would be a bit worried about introducing them to the plot! :lol:
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: New shoot on February 12, 2018, 20:02
based on your description, I would be a bit worried about introducing them to the plot! :lol:

Hmmmmm that may be a wise move.  They do have world domination tendencies and that would not make you particularly popular with your fellow plot holders :lol:

They cause no harm in my borders at home and if I dig corms up while planting stuff, they get lobbed back in the top of the hole to take their chances.
Title: Re: Spring flower spotting
Post by: Growster... on February 17, 2018, 21:03
Just spotted the first 'Soldiers and Sailors' today...

And I've pruned the wistaria which has taken five hours, and up a ladder too, so please be gentle with me!