January 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Hans A.]

Not typical rock garden plants, but as they are still flowering in the garden... 

[Maggi Young]

My goodness... in January! That shocks me, even for the Balearic Islands!  
This summer was so useless I got only ONE flower open  on the lilies in my pond  ONE!!!

[Hans A.]

I was also very surprised to see them still flowering, hope they all will survive the next months as this is a testplanting with tropical varieties (balearic islands are not very cold, but still far away from beeing tropical ).
One flower is not the best result, did you try the fantastic scottish native N. alba var. minor? I remember to have seen it in ponds of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, they were quite floriferous.

[Maggi Young]

It  IS the Scottish native ! Grown from a little one taken from a lochan on a relatives farm many many moons ago.... you'd think it would be more cooperative!
 Must admit that the site of my pond is too heavily shaded....

[Alan_b]

I took this photograph two days ago, on 2nd January.  It's not my garden but the front garden of a neighbour just down the road.  The house wall at the back faces North West and there is a brick boundary wall extending forward to the right, mostly out of shot.  So it's quite a sheltered location, won't get any sun until late afternoon but the other side of the boundary wall will get sun and perhaps that keeps the area warm.  Anyway, for whatever reason we have leucojum aestivum and ipheon in full flower.   

[Brian Ellis]

Just been outside to photograph a snowdrop but thought I would cheer David up, here is Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' just a year or two older than yours I think.  I hope yours is now flowering for you this year?

[David Nicholson]

Funny you should post that today Brian. I've just been out in the garden for the first time for ages (more remedial fence repairs) and noticed my "Jacqueline Postill" has four little flower clumps on it. All four are at the back of the plant (where until earlier this week there was a fence panel!) and I hadn't noticed them. None at all at the front of the plant, but I'm thankful for small mercies If we have have a day soon when I can go out without being blown over I'll try to get a pic.

[Hoy]

I am jealous! My very pretty specimen of "Jacqueline Postill" succumbed to death in the very harsh last winter 

[Paddy Tobin]

Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' seems to be in a long and lingering death here, looking perfectly miserable but still struggling to put out a few flowers. The last two winters have really punished it; such a pity as it is about eight feet tall and had looked well for many years.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' seems to be in a long and lingering death here, looking perfectly miserable but still struggling to put out a few flowers. The last two winters have really punished it; such a pity as it is about eight feet tall and had looked well for many years.

Paddy

Mine is getting a bit out of control. About 10 ft tall and 6ft wide. Still flowers reasonably well, but not as heavily as when young. I'm going to try Michael's advice and cut it back after flowering this spring. Also have a couple of dozen seedlings from it that really need potting up so they'll grow on to flowering size. Be interesting to see how they differ.

[Brian Ellis]

Glad yours is flowering David, next year it will probably be covered.

Martin, mine was a present from Richard Hobbs, he'd cut his back and it sent out one or two suckers, this is one.  Perhaps you should try that too Paddy?  Commiserations to you Hoy, you must be missing the scent.

[Hoy]

Glad yours is flowering David, next year it will probably be covered.

Martin, mine was a present from Richard Hobbs, he'd cut his back and it sent out one or two suckers, this is one.  Perhaps you should try that too Paddy?  Commiserations to you Hoy, you must be missing the scent.

Thanks Brian, yes I do! I am looking for a new one! I had two different cultivars bought from Glendoick some years ago. I think theirs succumbed last winter too.

[Paddy Tobin]

Brian, there are some suckers already growing around the plant and I think it might be worthwhile simply cutting the main plant back to the ground. We'll see.

Paddy

[EmmaCampanula]

Hamamelis 'Ruby Glow' starts flowering. 

[Surreylad]

looks very promising Emma. i do like this one, very nice