WE’RE in the dark days of winter and the weather can get very cold and bleak in the Cotswolds where I live. Despite that, there are early flowers around, but they’re not big and blowsy affairs. If they were, the wintry weather would reduce the petals to mush.
Early flowers need to be weather resistant and they often consist of tiny, subtle collections of stamens in equally subtle colours, including ivory-white, pallid-lemon and cool-pink. They can’t lure the pollinators in by colour or flower power, so they resort to fragrance – and that’s very pleasing for the gardener, too.
When you get a warmish January afternoon, that fragrance can carry for several yards if you’ve planted your winter-flowering shrubs in a sheltered, warm position. The first honey bees have already been lured in by the sweet perfume of winter honeysuckle, Lonicera fragrantissima, on one warm day this month. I wouldn’t be without this large shrub, because it picks so well for the house. It often displays a smidgeon of spirit-lifting green leaves and that brings spring a little nearer.
Denne historien er fra January 29, 2022-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra January 29, 2022-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters