Went along to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens this afternoon to renew our membership and while I was there had a lovely walk round the Gardens in the Winter sunshine.
Wallflowers are blooming already - in fact so many species seen today were flowering far earlier than usual in line with what everyone else is seeing around the country.
This would be a nice place to sit in the Melon Grounds for afternoon tea :)
I'm not sure what this little yellow flower is but it was very pretty.
Daisies growing in a trough.
Looking towards Castle Bromwich Hall
Greenhouse/Orangery
Preparations for a Valentine Day's event this weekend
Daffodils in flower in the North Orchard - so early!
Lower Wilderness
Snowdrops and Crocuses
The spidery flowers of Witch Hazel
Sadly, most of the Winter Aconites had finished flowering but there were still a few with blooms.
Lungwort
Hellebores
A flowering Cowslip - again so early.
Seedheads of Honesty
This beautiful variety of crocus was called Romance.
Betty Langley Vegetable Garden
Primroses are starting to flower on a bank
The Summer House
Lichens on fruit tree branches in the orchards
More Snowdrops in the Extra Gardens
Mirror Pool
I was hoping for a glimpse of the first butterfly or bumble bee of the year but none about although at 6/7 degrees centigrade its not surprising.
Birds seen - Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Robin, Blackbird, Blue and Great Tit
I'm still hoping to go over to St Giles churchyard, Packwood, but the way things are going it will be Primroses in flower as the Snowdrops finish!
Lovely photos of some early spring flowers. It is always a delight to see them out in the sun, but everything is so early and unusual this year. Talking to other beekeepers, we are all concerned about the timing of bees and flowers this year. If the blossom is out early, will the bees be around for it?
ReplyDeleteWendy - Thanks so much Wendy. It is a very strange winter - its not as if just 1 or 2 species are flowering early but so many of them.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about bees and timing of blossoms is very worrying especially for beekeepers like yourself. Perhaps if the current cold snap continues it will slow development and flowering down a bit - do hope so.
What a lovely garden to walk in. I can`t believe that cowslips are already flowering! Let`s hope that many of these flowering plants have a second bloom this spring, otherwise the insects and then the birds will be in trouble.
ReplyDeleteDartford Warbler - Thanks so much. It is very disconcerting that so much is flowering so early - knock on effect could be devastating as you say :(
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Wonderfully Spring. It's snowing here.
ReplyDeleteGlorious sunshine and flowers. I have lungwort here just starting to flower x
ReplyDeleteI saw a cowslip flowering at the garden centre recently but I am amazed to see one growing wild already in flower!!! The aconites are still going strong up here, whilst I think the snowdrops are now at their best. Quite a few daffodils are out in the Beverley area now, in fact they seem to be quite a bit ahead of the smaller tete-a-tete ones this year!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos as always and surely it won't be long till the first butterfly or bee makes an appearance :-)
Have a great weekend and kindest regards to all :-)
Anne Hagman Niilola - Thanks so much for leaving a comment. We've only had one very brief snow shower here this winter - its been very mild (rainy and windy!).
ReplyDeleteCountryside Tales - Thanks CT. Lungwort buds in our garden just opening too:) Waiting for the bees to arrive!
David - Thanks David. I was amazed at the Cowslip too - the ones in our own garden are nowhere near as advanced! I was upset at missing the best of the aconites as they are probably my favourite of the early Spring flowers. I can't remember when (if ever) I have seen daffodils flowering this early!
There were a few hoverfly type insects around yesterday so I am sure you are right about bees and butterflies.
Have a lovely weekend too and very best wishes to you all :)
Beautiful spring flowers. I do love the yellow Romance crocus. :-)
ReplyDeleteDeb - Thanks so much :) I loved that particular crocus too - I don't think I've seen that variety there before. Stunning yellow :)
ReplyDeleteLovely set of photos, the pink Hellebore is so pretty..
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much Amanda. I do like hellebores :)
ReplyDeleteLovely set of photos - that must have been a delightful walk. It's glorious seeing so many flowers out so early, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteMillymollymandy - Thanks so much Mandy. Its a very tranquil place to visit although I don't get there these days as often as I would like. Yes, its amazing how much is in flower. Hawthorn is already coming into leaf and I think I drove past one today that was starting to flower!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an early spring over by you as well!!! I would like to keep the cooler temps for a little while longer. Or maybe just a couple more weeks of rain:(
ReplyDeleteChris Rohrer - Thanks Chris - interesting to hear you have an early Spring too. If I had your summer temperatures I would also prefer for it to remain cooler for longer!
ReplyDelete