Friday 18 February 2011

What a difference a month makes

In January I wrote this post and reported spotting the first snowdrops in my Mum and Dad's garden.
Here there are now...so much bigger. I complained in that post that I have never been able to successfully grow them in my own garden.

Well ,not only have my parents' grown a great deal but I can tell you with great excitement that for the FIRST time ever I have snowdrops in my own garden. Just look...
I mentioned to my Dad last year about my lack of success growing snowdrops and he told me that I should try taking some of his "in the green" and putting them straight into my garden. I waited until his had stopped flowering last spring and dug up 3 clumps...I am so happy that each clump has produced flowers in my front garden.

My hellebore are also in flower, these flambouyant plants provide such a welcome show at this time of the year.

I also showed photos in my January post of my bulbs beginning to poke their way up in my raised bed.




This photo to the left shows how they looked 10 days ago....














And this is the view I had outside my back door  this morning.......
They have grown so quickly over the last few weeks.
What I also found to my total delight is my very FIRST outdoor daffodil in flower...just look..






This is the dainty miniature variety called Tete a Tete and I have also spotted a nearly ready to open bud on one of my full size daffodils shown below. I am actually quite surprised to see them as we had so  much snow last December I thought my bulbs would be very delayed this year.











Here she is tightly curled inside her bud ready to burst into colour. It is my son's birthday next week and every single year since his birth I have had a daffodil in bloom in my garden in time for that day - 24th February. Although we can often have snow the week of his birthday some years have been quite mild. My daffs have never let me down although one year a few years back I only had 1 open on the actual day of his birthday.I have vivid memories of my daughter bringing me in hospital a bunch of daffodils from the garden the day he was born. She was not quite 3 years old then and had picked them from the garden with her Nan.

Daffodils are my absolute favourite flowers. I love their shape, colours and most of all the sheer promise of spring which comes with seeing them. I also think my love of daffodils also came from learning a poem at primary school written by A.A.Milne and taken from the "When we were very Young" book of verse. I loved these poems and my Mum even bought me my own copy in paperback. I still  have a lovely blue cover 1960s version...it is in the loft at the moment as we are still decorating the dining room and most of our books are stored away. The poem is called

"Daffodowndilly"

I can still recite this off by heart.........


She wore her yellow sunbonnet,
She wore her greenest gown,
She turned to the South wind and curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head
And whispered to her neighbour
"Winter is dead"

After all these years whenever I see my first daffodil in flower outside, this sweet poem returns to me. I believe every daffodil wears her best sunbonnet and  her very greenest gown. Just magical flowers!

The days are getting lighter here every single day, let's hope that spring is just around the corner and that winter is very nearly dead. In another month it really will be so.

Have a great weekend, enjoy spotting the daffodowndillies if they are coming into flower near you. Perhaps you can also listen to what they may be whispering .....?? ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x

14 comments:

  1. Lovely post Jane! :)
    I love daffodils, they are one of my favourite flowers, second only to the sunflower which is my very favourite.
    I have lots in bud but as yet none in bloom.
    Let's hope the little poem is correct and "Winter is dead", although looking out my window at the moment, I'm not so sure!
    Have a lovely weekend,
    Vivienne x

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  2. Hi Vivienne, I hope you have some daffs out soon, such cheerful souls. I quite agree though, there is a bit of a nip in the air tonight...
    Have a lovely weekend too, see you next week,
    Jane x

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  3. Dear Jane,

    Thank you so much for sharing! As you may know, we're not quite yet hearing the whisper here ;) but these pictures made me so happy. I love daffodils, and for me they're the Easter flowers, and I am waiting to see them here SO much...

    The happiest weekend, dear friend, and many kisses to Mr.B!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  4. Dear Mia, I know just how cold you are out there in Finland - I am so glad you enjoy seeing the signs of spring here in my photos. Yes daffodils are just perfect spring flowers aren't they.
    Have a happy weekend too my dear and I hope you keep snug. Billy sends a very pink nosed kiss to you :0)
    See you next week,
    Jane x

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  5. A lovely, refreshing spring post, Jane! I'm so glad you have snowdrops in your garden at last! Now they've got going you'll be able to enjoy them every year. I love daffodils too, both large and small, they are so pretty. Ours are quite a bit behind yours, being further north, but soon they'll be blooming too! Have a lovely weekend. Helen x

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  6. It is lovely to finally have my own snowdrops Helen. I hope your daffs will soon be whispering!Enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  7. Jane, love your daffodils and the story and the poem. Just sweet. My daffs are budding up but not in bloom yet. I guess your place in England is warmer than my place in Oregon USA! :-)

    Teresa

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  8. Thank you Teresa, I think here in Surrey we are pretty protected and our daffs are really doing well. I was quite surprised after the severe snow we had.Mind you today is very un-spring like,windy chilly and raining ;0(
    Hope you get some shunshine this weekend,
    Jane x

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  9. Hi jane, Loved seeing your lovely flowers! I also love snowdrops and can not find them to grow here in Vermont. I had many many clusters in Massachusetts. I wish I could dig some up and plant them here as an experiment. I will look into that. Your daffs are delightful. I really love the heliborne's, they are new to me and I just think they are gorgeous!!! It's so much fun to compare and see what other parts of the world have. Thanks for sharing and reciting the lovely poem. My best to you, xoRobin❤

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  10. Snowdrops are one of my favorite flowers. I'm glad you managed to get them to grow for you. Love seeing all the flowers. Maybe spring will come to Ohio sometime too? (Please!)

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  11. Hi Robin, apparently planting snowdrops "in the green" is the only sure fire way to get them to grow, I'm so glad I tried this last year. Hellebores are really showy plants this time of year, I love them. Hope you are having a lovely Saturday, take care,
    Jane x

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  12. Hi Linda, today is not such a "nearly spring day"(wet and chilly) but it is so lovely to see my bulbs coming into flower in the garden. Sending some spring wishes your way.
    Jane x

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  13. We typically enjoy a false "spring" in January, here in California. The hills are green, and many flowers are already in bloom, but like you, I still look forward to certain flowers as an indication of the "real" springtime.
    Aren't your daffodils just the cheeriest and sunniest yellow?
    P.S.
    ...And I am sooo envious of your hellebores! :o)

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  14. Yes Michele daffodils are just the cheeriest flowers I know! They always make me think of spring...fab! I'm glad you liked my helebores, I have 2 varieties in my garden - both are stunning and provide some welcome winter colour.
    Jane x

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