Snow returned to the Chiltern Hills and unlike last week it was heavy and caused chaos. Not much gardening happened so my words will be brief – but the next day there were blue skies and sunshine.
Donning my waterproof trousers, wellies and waterproof jacket, I got cold and wet lying on the ground to take a few wintry photographs of snowdrops, hellebores, chaenomeles and crocus.
Snowy garden view
I like this aspect of the garden as it cunningly borrows some trees from the neighbours. You can’t tell but there are some lovely pink cherries over that beech hedge. Beyond the yew hedge is still my garden though – it’s a little orchard with some old but usually productive apples and some other fruit trees that I have planted – plum, pear, cherry and quince.
Snowdrops in the snow
Some better pictures of snowdrops than I was able to take last week. The snow was 7cm thick here and many of the emerging snowdrops were swamped with just these taller ones coping.
It has since melted but lying in the snow with the sun glinting – it was magical there for a while.
More snowdrops – Gallanthus ‘Yvonne Hay’
These are not mine but are on display in my snowdrop friend’s garden. I was waiting for one of his rarer yellow varieties to open (which it stubbornly refused to do despite the sunshine) when I spotted these ones looking rather lovely.
The central trumpet or inner sepal is heavily marked with green and the petals are nice and long and really stood out as they were upright and perky despite the snow.
Hellebores (again)
Last week I gave you hellebores but I hope you’ll forgive the repitition given the change in context. Snow really sets these stunners off perfectly.
This path is heavily shadowed by surrounding trees and shrubs but it felt so much brighter with the snow’s reflective effect.
Chaenomales japoinca – flowering quince
The sunshine was probably a bit bright for this photograph to be top quality but I do like the contrast of the bright red with the snow. This is one of my favourite shrubs and I’ve shared it with you all before – including just before Christmas when the tight green flower buds resembled miniature brussels sprouts.
Early flowering Crocus – crocus tomassianus
I’ve saved my favourite picture for last. Given some sunshine, these early flowering crocuses will be open very soon. They’ve spread from a small patch and now flood the orchard with puddles of pale amythyst flowers in late winter. I loved the ice bridge between these two.
Six on Saturday is a weekly meme – take a look at the comments at the base of host The Propagator to see more ‘sixes’ from other keen gardeners from all over the world.
Oh Katharine your photos are gorgeous. My snowdrops and bulbs are only deciding to wake up (apart from the daffs they are just being daffed). You have such beautiful colour in your garden. This makes me want to plan out some hellebores for next year. Your snowdrops are just magical in that pic. x
Hi Nadia – you can’t go wrong with hellebores. Such pretty flowers and I have found they self seed quite well. Hope you give them a try.
Beautiful snow shots! My daughter would have loved your garden as our snow melted away very quickly.
Still very nice pictures Katharine … The snow gives beautiful contrasts and an incomparable purity.
(To sit on the bench of the first picture would be great… summer like winter : good spot )
Fred – you’ve spotted my favourite bench. It’s a lovely sunny spot – great to sit there with a cup of tea. I’ve planted some bulbs round it so I’m hoping for a good show in a month or two.
Your snow pictures this week are SO beautiful! Quince is such a lovely shrub but it doesn’t bloom here in the Northeast US until April or May. Seeing the Quince flower surrounded by snow is stunning! I am also in awe of the hellebores shot in the snowy garden…and the snowdrops…and that gorgeous crocus shot! Appreciate you capturing these images to share!
Thanks so much Laura – it’s great to me able to share these pictures across the world. So glad you like them.
Lovely photos! And well done for braving the elements to take them. I especially love the colour of the quince against the snow, beautiful.
Hi GIll, yes that quince picture was my daughters’ favourite too. It really is an attractive flower.
I love your flowers in the snow – very beautiful indeed. We’ll be lucky to see any snow but I will keep hoping for a smattering, which is usually all we get in Cornwall. 🙂
Yes, we have Cornish relatives and know how rare snow is there. Whilst I loved my snowy photography the roads round here were terribly dangerous. Enjoy the Cornish climate.
Love the photos, my fave is the last of the crocus. Looking forward to some crocus action here too.
I look forward to seeing your crocus pictures.
The snowdrops and Hellebores in the snow are fantastic images. Worthy of a place on a calendar! I have the crocus tomassianus too, but left them in a pot all year so I am not sure how they will perform this year.
Hi Jude – thanks so much for your lovely comment and I really hope that your crocus pot will soon be looking fantastic.
Some lovely photo’s there. Especially like the ome of the flpwering quince.
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