January proved to be very dry for the time of year with above average temperatures. Two light frosts during the month meant that many plants that would have succumbed to the cold were still doing well. This included a yellow rose. Even the birds were becoming quite excited and were looking for mates. We even had unwelcome visitors as two ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula Krameri) arrived in the garden and stole all the bird food we had put out. However, we did revert to normal January temperatures for the last two days of the month, with bitterly cold winds and a very light dusting of snow that soon cleared.
Irises are the first flowers of the year. (07/01/12)
Primula (07/01/12)
Helichysums, an annual, have survived the winter. (07/01/12)
Rosehips – not yet found by the birds. (07/01/12)
The first light frost of the year (14/01/12)
The juniper also has a light dusting of frost.
Unwelcome guests – the first time we have seen ring-necked parakeets … (17/01/12)
… although they have been seen in Kent since the 1960s. (17/01/12)
A yellow rose in full bloom (18/01/12)
The first crocus (18/01/12)
Coronilla (18/01/12)
Iris ‘George’ (23/01/12)
The blue iris is still doing well … (23/01/12)
… as is this pale blue one. (23/01/12)
Pink hellebore … (23/01/12)
… and a darker hellebore (23/01/12)
Primula (23/01/12)
Blue hyacinth (26/01/12)
Sarcococca – a sweet smelling bush (26/01/12)
Loncinera – another sweet smelling flower that has already had visits from bees (26/01/12)
Snowdrops in the front lawn (26/01/12)
Snowdrops under the birdbath (26/01/12)
Winter jasmine (26/01/12)
Daphne – like many flowers blooming at this time of the year it is also perfumed (26/01/12)
Cobweb on our back gate (29/01/12)
A viola in the vegetable garden (30/01/12)
The rhubarb is early. (30/01/12)
Leeks in the vegetable garden (30/01/12)
George at work after butchering the lilac bush (30/01/12)
Last day of the month and the very first sign of snow this winter (31/01/12)
Libera – Vespera