There are several types of hellebore - niger, foetidus, X hybridus and argutifolius ... - with different flowering times, hence the common names of Christmas rose for the earlies and Lenten rose for the later ones. Just as some daffs are very early, flowering from mid Feb and some are really late.
As Joyce says, spring's arrival from one garden to the next will vary depending on how well cultivated is the soil, how sheltered is the garden, which way it faces and which end of side of the country it's in. Looking forward to seeing if my snowdrops and iris reticulata have survived and maybe thrived as well as all the other bulbs hiding.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
For all our milder climate our daff leaves are just 1 or 2 inches above the soil and also the Spanish blue bells. We have some narcissus in flower and also late (or early) roses. We are lacking in sunshine for December here, it certainly does make a difference Obelixx, some gardens in Guernsey have daffs and primroses in flower already, but not in our garden.
Just been out to the check, nothing yet in flower but snowdrops, iris ret, crocus, April daffs poking through. Daffodil 'January' & 'February Gold' looking closest to flowering.
Good news . My dwarf iris "reticulata" has started to flower.
I'd be happy getting 2/3 years out of them like Busy Lizzie, but fear that's wishful thinking here in the NW. Will plant more this autumn (just to be on the safe side), they were cheap as chips at £1 a bag.
Have trimmed the old foliage from my hellebore and can see a couple of buds about to burst. Snowdrops peeping through with a tiny bit of white on show, and a smattering of yellow crocus were found flowering in an abandoned plant pot down the side of the house, beside the bins . I've rescued them to a more prominent position near the back door .
Just this morning discovered my first crocus flower had started to open.My Daffodils are about 2 inches tall at the moment so I can say that spring has arrived in my garden
Posts
It's always interesting to see when spring growth occurs in the various parts of the UK.
Some gardens, with a harsh climate, may have sheltered corners for early flowers.
I have pots of spring bulbs against the house walls, under the eaves to help promote early growth and colour.
Just to be nitpicky,
Not sure if Hellebores and snowdrops qualify for "spring flowers". More like "winter flowers" to me.
What kind of irises are "dwarf irises"?
Iris Reticulata are a dwarf species.
Hellebores, where I live, are more of a spring flower than a winter one in most years.
Thanks for the info, Joyce.
There are several types of hellebore - niger, foetidus, X hybridus and argutifolius ... - with different flowering times, hence the common names of Christmas rose for the earlies and Lenten rose for the later ones. Just as some daffs are very early, flowering from mid Feb and some are really late.
As Joyce says, spring's arrival from one garden to the next will vary depending on how well cultivated is the soil, how sheltered is the garden, which way it faces and which end of side of the country it's in. Looking forward to seeing if my snowdrops and iris reticulata have survived and maybe thrived as well as all the other bulbs hiding.
For all our milder climate our daff leaves are just 1 or 2 inches above the soil and also the Spanish blue bells. We have some narcissus in flower and also late (or early) roses. We are lacking in sunshine for December here, it certainly does make a difference Obelixx, some gardens in Guernsey have daffs and primroses in flower already, but not in our garden.
Last edited: 28 December 2017 23:11:56
Just been out to the check, nothing yet in flower but snowdrops, iris ret, crocus, April daffs poking through. Daffodil 'January' & 'February Gold' looking closest to flowering.
Good news
. My dwarf iris "reticulata" has started to flower.
I'd be happy getting 2/3 years out of them like Busy Lizzie, but fear that's wishful thinking here in the NW. Will plant more this autumn (just to be on the safe side
), they were cheap as chips at £1 a bag.
Have trimmed the old foliage from my hellebore and can see a couple of buds about to burst. Snowdrops peeping through with a tiny bit of white on show, and a smattering of yellow crocus were found flowering in an abandoned plant pot down the side of the house, beside the bins
. I've rescued them to a more prominent position near the back door 
.
Just this morning discovered my first crocus flower had started to open.My Daffodils are about 2 inches tall at the moment so I can say that spring has arrived in my garden
Enjoy your gardens
Jolly G
This is one of the Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' in my garden, second time returning Such a joy!