Galanthus plicatus 'Diggory', 1st & 6th February 2015

One of the most distinctive of snowdrops, I like "Diggory". It has character, catching the eye with its puckered texture and bowl shape. My specimen has increased to two flowers since last year's planting of a solitary bulb. This first photograph was taken on February 1st.  Five days later it has opened up slightly.

Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty', 21st January 2015

My main camera had crashed to the kitchen floor in an act of clumsiness requiring expensive repair so with due apologies here are images from my 'phone showing Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' climbing up the fence shrubs and apple tree into the winter evening sky.

I understand the flower has a distinct fragrance though I can't say I noticed it. What I can recall are the waxy cream and quite perfect bells. It climbed into the host branches. I do not have the perfect image sadly because it was quite remarkable and a point of conversation at this dark time of the rear. Stupid pruning of the trees meant that I managed to snip much of the topmost flowers.

My gardening helpers ......

It might seem as if my gardening is achieved single-handedly. Well that is simply not true. Here are two of my helpers photographed firstly on Hampstead Heath in May 2009, and the second assisting me with the important task of watering the pots in my garden a few days later.



Matilda doing a bit of field research.



She attempts to get away, field research being hard work.

Very happy with herself.

Rose loves watering the plants and wearing floppy hats.

I think she was watering my shoes.

Holehird Gardens, Lakeland Horticultural Society, 24th January 2015

On a dull day we arrived at one of the jewels in Britain's gardens, Holehird, the home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society and a marvelous place. The faintest scintilla of light promised much but only for the duration of the photograph. Still, we take what we can on a dark day.

Two remarkable plants greeted us. First, Ilex Aquifolium 'Bacciflava' with its fabulous yellow berries.

And then, glory of fragrant glories, "Daphne Bholua Jacqueline Postill", a plant of which I have written previously.

Rain. So we retired to the alpine house and I wished for the umpteenth time that I should chat to the bank manager about one in our garden.  She promptly told me it was impossible!!

Little actual colour but saxifraga and such that hugged the rocks.

Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, 24 January 2015

We stopped over at  Sizergh Castle as we made for our Lake District hotel. The house was closed and the gardens, so colourful later in the year, devoid of colour. The house is certainly lived in but I could not survive its dark interior. I was not really sorry it was closed to be truthful, which is not to criticise but I was in search of light that day.

 We did find some snowdrops but in their early stages sadly.

 The rock gardens are splendid in their season. This was not their season.

It is a sad day when the only brightness is emitted by a brassica.

Winter Borders and Beds at Harlow Carr, 20th February 2015

The Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Harlow Carr offer something at all times of the year. I'm no lover of heathers and ericas as a rule but the display by the entrance was striking. I used to grow them thirty or more years ago and was surprised how many of the old varieties are still around given how quickly other plants are "improved".

 Dogwoods, hamamelis and the silver birch on the "winter border".
.

Rare and Collectable Snowdrops - Galanthus "Green Bush" and Galanthus "Franz Josef"

This year I have greatly added to my snowdrop collection and will keep an eye on them as the season progresses, noting how they increase for next year, how they have developed this winter. Today I contrast the reasonably priced "Green Bush" with the extravagantly expensive "Franz Josef".

Purchased in December is the rapidly clumping up "Green Bush" making a statement on my display bench.

In close-up the plant repays the investment tenfold, especially when one considers the alternative ..

A genuinely rare specimen, "Franz Josef" is a beautiful double form from Germany. Though my specimen was from rather nearer home.

Acquired in January, Galanthus "Franz Josef", though admittedly at this early stage in its growth, is attractive enough though I could have purchased a whole tray of "Green Bush" for one of this German import at some nurseries I have visited. It is a double flowering variety and the photograph this afternoon does not do that justice unless I was in a reclining position.

Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double lilac speckled & Helleborus × hybridus Harvington picotee

My two purchases from Hodsock yesterday, impulse buys both.

The smaller of the two hellebores and most expensive, but the speckled double lilac was full of flower and looks particularly good at eye level. The Hugh Nunn nursery has got the breeding of these magnificent flowering plants off to perfection.

"Picotee" just said buy me. My wife said "Surely not." Always listen to your plants.

If there is a blemish with hellebores it is that they look best if one is on one's back looking up. But Picotee actually looks good looking down. And my shirts stay cleaner this way.

Hodsock Priory, 1st February 2015

We like to visit Hodsock early in February as well as later in month. Today was increasingly sunny,  the gardens looking in wonderful condition. The visitor experience was well organised with George Buchanan conspicuous and courteous as ever, his father, Sir Andrew, equally conspicuous in his high visibility jacket as he directed the parking.

The winter flowering cyclamen coum is quite a  sight. I have them all over our garden but maybe I need  more sunshine to bring them to their best.

On a cold winter day the log fire is a welcome treat, especially with bacon butty and hot coffee.

Garrya elliptica 'James Roof' is a blisteringly striking shrub when grown well.

The gatehouse is the oldest part of the house.

Viewed from across the lake, Hodsock is a lovely sight.

And finally snowdrops. Galanthus "Magnet" is one of the best varieties one can buy and the well stocked plant sales area had them on sale at a decent price.  I already have the variety in some abundance though I did make my purchase of two hellebores, of which more later.