The continued erratic weather patterns are still giving us surprises; I found this flowering currant in bloom just today. It seems that in winter these days, we aren’t left entirely without flowers, even though there are sometimes very few. I have a few dianthus blooms and winter pansies braving the cold!
Witch hazel, or hamamelis mollis is one of the lovely shrubs that flower in winter. This one is in my dad’s garden; the flowers have a characteristic sweet scent. A very cheering sight on a dull winter day, and actually quite easy to grow.
Looking around rather dejectedly (the dull weather wasn’t helping) I came across this clump of shoots – probably from daffodil bulbs. I know this isn’t much to look at in itself, but it was enough to cheer me up somewhat; a promise of better things to come!
Some of you already well know my fascination with reflections. This one caught my attention the other day; the rather surreal look is due to a thin film of ice on the surface of the water of the lake. I’m not always fond of winter, but this kind of thing makes me feel it’s worth braving the cold weather, and going for a walk!
Wednesday last week began with a heavy white frost. This provides great opportunity for outdoor photography; frost does amazing things with the shapes and lines in plants, and bright sunlight at a low angle gives added punch. You just have to brave the climate, and get out there quickly!
