Crocuses!
Dear Readers, I managed to persuade my husband to come out for a quick walk around the block at lunchtime – he’s still working full-time, and will sometimes sit hunched over his computer for ten hours at a stretch. But today was bright, and sunny, and not too cold, and so we went for a quick trot around East Finchley’s County Roads, just to see what was happening.
Well, first up it appears that putting gravel into my plant pots deterred the squirrels enough for at least some of them to survive. I can only plant them in my south-facing front garden, because at the back it’s too cold and shady. When they’re happy, though, they burst forth with open arms. Now all I need is a big fat bee to come and enjoy them.
More front-garden crocuses (or possibly crocii?)
Off we go to see what else is happening. Just up the road the winter jasmine is coming into bloom – this is a very fine example, which runs almost up to the gutter of the house. There are just a few flowers at the moment…
Winter-flowering jasmine
…but in a few weeks it will look like this:
And then there’s the flowering quince, of which there are several examples on the County Roads. I love the way that the flowers come before the leaves.
The hedge on the corner is full of privet berries – none of the birds seem to like them much, but maybe it’s because they’re black, and birds are much more attracted to red.
Privet berries
This lovely magnolia on Durham Road will be so beautiful in a week or so – I must remember to pop back. It always amazes me to think that magnolias are some of our very oldest plants, and were originally pollinated by beetles because social insects hadn’t evolved yet.
Magnolia buds waiting to pop
And as we walk down Hertford Road we find a mahonia in full bloom. The smell is fantastic, like lemon and rose with a bit of honey thrown in. Again, all we need is a nice fat bee.
There are some polyanthus about…
and somebody has made a nice green roof for their wheelie bins, covered in a miniature forest of sedum…
And then, right at the end of the road there’s the mimosa, looking just about as fabulous as any plant has the right to look.
And so, I recommend getting outside every day, even if it’s just for a quarter of an hour. You never know what you might spot!
This is an excellent idea!
I wonder if the ‘AD’ could be the first owner’s initials. There is a similar ‘EP’ on our house.
Now there’s a thought! I shall have to do some research, thanks Sarah…
I am desperately on the look out for a mimosa tree.. Gorgeous! Are you based in Hertforshire?
No, I’m actually in East Finchley – if you have a look at the RHS website they will give details of stockists….https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24107/acacia-dealbata/details
I love to take walks in late January, early February, just to convince myself that yes, winter is fading and spring is on the way! Like you, I take a ton of pictures.
In my garden, my crocuses are up, as well as my mini irises. The violets are blooming. The tulips are already about 6 inches tall, and the dang Spanish bluebells are shooting up everywhere. While I think they’re pretty, no matter what I do they carpet my garden. They came with the house when I bought it 30 years ago, and I have never been able to get them under control. They are so rude!
Interesting note about the dark berries. I planted a native red-flowering currant a few years ago, thinking the birds would love it, but the currants are black and I don’t see birds or squirrels eating them. I had never thought the color might be the issues. Still, the flowers are lovely and the bees flock to them.
I was very moved by your first ever post, about the demise of a little bumblebee and all that relied upon her. Every summer, we have a bumblebee community under our deck, and I love to see them. I leave all the detritus in my garden all winter, in case there are queens hibernating under the leaves.
Anyway, wishing you many big fat bees in your near future. Thank you for your blog.
It’s all about the crocuses here at the moment (mostly anyway), but today I was noticing hazel catkins and the buds of hawthorn starting to unfurl.