Spring Plants and Flowers

 The winter seemed long and harsh.  Although cold at Christmas and the New Year, it wasn't until early February that the snow hit. Overnight this, to some people, was a white wonderland. To others it was not really invited or wanted . The temperature dropped to 22F and on some nights it was a lot colder than that. I was really worried about my beloved tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica. It's said they can take some cold, but this was savage and never ending. The north wind was evil and kept bringing snow. I could hardly see one of my tree ferns in the end, but nature was kind to them as you can see!

The daffodils have been very late this year, but they are out now in profusion and are lovely to see.  

 The dwarf tulips are beginning to bloom and the Cyclamen are still in flower.

Even the paperbark maple, Acer griseum, is showing off its incredible peeling cinnamon coloured bark. The Pieris formosa var. forrestii 'Wakehurst' is also just ready to join in the spring parade!

The Hyacinths are lovely at the moment and their scent fills the air.

The Polyanthus are out. The yellow ones always look superb.

Now the wallfowers have joined us as well.

The pansies are quite beautiful. These belong to my neighbours, quite lovely to see.

There is one plant I am happy to see all year round; its winter bark, its spring foliage, its summer green, and its autumn colours are truly lovely. It is of course the coralbark maple, Acer palmatum 'Senkaki'. This prickly evergreen Berberis always produces a lovely orange/yellow show in the spring.

The Magnolias are really getting ready to bloom. This Magnolia stellata is nearly ready but we need some sun. The Magnolia soulangeana speaks for itself.

It would not be spring without Forsythia and an ornamental flowering black currant!

And finally a great favourite: the ornamental Japanese flowering Quince. The first of its blossoms are with us, so I had to take this photo!

I hope you have enjoyed some of the spring photographs here. There are lots more to see. Take a look at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew!

Kew in the spring.

How has this olive tree survived the winter with its black olives still intact? This is one of my olives. I have two, and they both have fruit on them.

Regards.

Neil.