It takes a bit of searching to find colour in my garden this month but I always appreciate it when I do. I had to get up close with the camera to find little yellow crocus among dead leaves, drifts of snowdrops, tiny pink and white flowers of sweet-scented Viburnum 'Fragrans' and spiky leaves of Mahonia japonica with cheerful yellow flowers. And, of course, a friendly robin.
Finding this little yellow crocus was a treat today because I thought it had died out. I remember when my husband and I planted three colours of these tiny almost insignificant beauties many years ago. We put down bulbs of yellow, cream and pale blue. No sooner had we planted them, than the birds dug them up again. I’ve never had that problem before or since but they went wild for these miniature plants. We ended up laying chicken wire across the top of the ground to keep them away. So glad to see this plant has survived almost twenty-five years of neglect.
Virburnum ‘Fragrans’
We’ve also had this shrub for years and it grows at the front of the house. It flowers on bare wood and a passer-by would almost miss these beautiful little fragrant flowers with pink buds that open into miniature white trumpets. Viburnum ‘Fragrans’ originated in Northern China and takes up to twenty years to reach its final height. It’s a useful shrub and can be planted as a screen or informal hedge too.
January drifts of snowdrops
Don’t we all love snowdrops, those pure white flowers that drift across the grass in January? This clump under our wild cherry trees was planted by my husband’s brother as a present for us and every year I look forward to the display I can see from the top floor of the house. Snowdrops, or Galanthus, come in many different sizes and shapes and are normally easy to grow. Excellent for beginners and small gardens. The easiest way to propagate them is to dig them up when they have finished flowering and the leaves are starting to go yellow. Divide them and replant. These obliging little beauties will soon form thick clumps again.
Mahonia japonica
I think this Mahonia japonica was a present from a friend who is a horticulturist. Its dark green leathery leaves are a bit savage so I don’t attempt to touch it without thick gloves. The bright yellow flowers have been on display since before Christmas this year and our shrub has grown into a small tree at this stage. I really need to prune it back. Our friend said to take one third off each year until it’s back under control.
A friendly robin keeps a sharp eye on what’s happening. I have one in the stable yard that drops by for a handful of oats each day.
I always leave the seed heads of Teasle because they’re unusually tall and dramatic. They have purple flowers in July and August but are biennial, sowing their seeds to flower the following year. I have to keep digging the plants up and donating them to friends as they spread with enthusiasm all over the garden. Great for growing in gravel, by the way. They also attract goldfinches which love the seeds.
The centre photo is Bay (Laurus nobilis), useful for cooks, and ours has produced little buds this month. The plant originates in the Mediterranean region and makes an easy-to-grow evergreen shrub.
If you have any good ideas for plants that flower in January, I’d love to hear from you.
Wishing you all health and happiness this year.
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