hamamellis pallida mollis is looking good right now for me. Sarcoccoca and lonicera Winter Beauty too all putting out scent to die for. The odd hyacinth also sparking the olfactory senses.......I nose you know!
I personally don't have a lot going on at the moment but I have seen some lovely Hebes still flowering in other peoples gardens. Wondered if anybody might know what variaties flowered at this time of year or is it just because it has been quite mild?
Yes Verdun, this is the first year my sarcococca has flowered properly, it is covered in flowers after 3 years of doing nothing. It's planted in deep dry shade so it's taken a while to establish but is now going for ir.
The hellebores have been fantastic, they have flowered non stop all winter and smell lovely.
The two daphnes have fat buds on but I only planted them in autumn so the scented flowers are not out yet.
Sarcococca - I have quite a few little bushes, all flowering. These were all taken from cuttings from one in my old garden, and are only three years old or so. Snowdrops are flowering, as is lungwort. Hellebores are in bud, one starting to flower.
Hamamelis has been flowering for some weeks, though this is a very small one (in what is still a very new garden). There's a winter Lonicera, but it isn't yet in bloom - again it's rather small still, as it's from a cutting from my old garden. Winter viburnums are coming into flower though again it will be several years before they've got enough blooms to really make scent!
Overall, though, there are some lovely scents starting to emerge, so that the garden is starting to feel very alive.
And the scent of the various herbs, which are now making new growth, is a contributor - wild marjoram, various oreganos, mints and such, along with winter savoury and rosemary. Alas I've had to put a cloche over the catmint because of the tail-less animal two doors over which has been regarding it as the cat version of wine... but the other herbs are all contributing to that new growth scent.
Mahonia shrubs carry lots of sweetly scented yellow flowers in February and have attractive foliage all year. Anemone Blanda, available in blue, pink and white, is incredibly pretty right now. The daisy-like flowers open in the sunshine and naturalise over the years. Unlike most other spring bulbs/corms, these very quickly die down after flowering, leaving other plants to take over.
It's crazy weather - last week I spotted two roses in bloom from a huge bush of Buff Beauty and a sprig of honesuckle. Today the garden is alive with colour from snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, hellebores & rosemary. Mustn't forget pansies, primula, heather, and miniture iris in my pots.
The odd hyacinth also sparking the olfactory senses.......I nose you know! 
Posts
I personally don't have a lot going on at the moment but I have seen some lovely Hebes still flowering in other peoples gardens. Wondered if anybody might know what variaties flowered at this time of year or is it just because it has been quite mild?
Hebe 'Midsummer Beauty' is known as 'Midwinter Beauty' here Meomye.
For scent now, the Sarcococca above all else. Winter flowering honeysuckles and that pink viburnum aren't so generous with scent.
There's also a lovely pungent aroma when I walk on the Phuopsis stylosa where it's spread onto some steps. Not in flower, it's the leaves.
And the pile of horse s..t adds a finishing touch
In the sticks near Peterborough
Can anyone suggest a fragrant rose to grow at my front door.
Yes Verdun, this is the first year my sarcococca has flowered properly, it is covered in flowers after 3 years of doing nothing. It's planted in deep dry shade so it's taken a while to establish but is now going for ir.
The hellebores have been fantastic, they have flowered non stop all winter and smell lovely.
The two daphnes have fat buds on but I only planted them in autumn so the scented flowers are not out yet.
Lots and Lots of narcissus atm and quite a few hyacinths.
My white forsythia is looking a little pathetic only bought the twig at the end of the summer but is showing potential for next year.
I think I might need to find some more winter scent for next year
Sarcococca - I have quite a few little bushes, all flowering. These were all taken from cuttings from one in my old garden, and are only three years old or so.
Snowdrops are flowering, as is lungwort. Hellebores are in bud, one starting to flower.
Hamamelis has been flowering for some weeks, though this is a very small one (in what is still a very new garden). There's a winter Lonicera, but it isn't yet in bloom - again it's rather small still, as it's from a cutting from my old garden. Winter viburnums are coming into flower though again it will be several years before they've got enough blooms to really make scent!
Overall, though, there are some lovely scents starting to emerge, so that the garden is starting to feel very alive.
And the scent of the various herbs, which are now making new growth, is a contributor - wild marjoram, various oreganos, mints and such, along with winter savoury and rosemary. Alas I've had to put a cloche over the catmint because of the tail-less animal two doors over which has been regarding it as the cat version of wine... but the other herbs are all contributing to that new growth scent.
Mahonia shrubs carry lots of sweetly scented yellow flowers in February and have attractive foliage all year. Anemone Blanda, available in blue, pink and white, is incredibly pretty right now. The daisy-like flowers open in the sunshine and naturalise over the years. Unlike most other spring bulbs/corms, these very quickly die down after flowering, leaving other plants to take over.
It's crazy weather - last week I spotted two roses in bloom from a huge bush of Buff Beauty and a sprig of honesuckle. Today the garden is alive with colour from snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, hellebores & rosemary. Mustn't forget pansies, primula, heather, and miniture iris in my pots.