February flowers

It's interesting what you find on a late winter's stroll through my woods.
#1. Hamamelis x intermedia Diane
#2. Lonicera fragrantissima. Frankly not very fragrant today, but just a couple blooms open.
#3. Parrotia persica. You need telephoto to see the tiny flowers which cluster on the high branches. Maybe not the showiest bloom, but I expended a great deal of effort to get the spectacular? shot. Thank god for the 'delete' button...
#4. Daphne odora Zuiko Nishiki. Supposedly the hardiest cultivar. Not quite fully open yet, so no significant fragrance yet. It should be fabulous soon.
#5. Jasminum nudum. Has been blooming on again/off again for over a month already.

Finally, prunus mume in 3 colors. It also has bloomed off/on for an entire month already.
I couldn't find any low-hanging flowers on the white one...

Spring is definitely coming!

I love your winter stroll-and the lovely photos. TY. I haven't been up north in a very long time, and it is wonderful to remember the flowers and plants that live there.
I wait each winter to see the northern robins come through, and it is only once in a few years that they do. They always remind me of snow, crocus and other early bloomers... and their song is lovely,
like the flowers that you shared.
edit: They did come through this winter, and I was lucky enough to have them searching for grubs for 4 days before the entire flock flew back up to you :)



This message was edited Feb 17, 2013 10:11 PM

Good ones, Weerobin.

Despite the subfreezing weather, I strolled my property yesterday as well, toting pruners instead of the camera. Oh well - I did appreciate the early bloomers around the Valley.

I can match the Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane', and raise you 'Jelena', 'Primavera', 'Moonlight' - with Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme' tugging at the reins.

Add Cornus mas that will be ready for a big show by this coming warmer weekend - little bits of puffed cheeked yellow poking from the bud scales on southwest exposed sides of the 'Golden Glory' Cherry Dogwoods.

Of course, the all winter here-and-there flowers of Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' and parent species selections of Viburnum farreri are still popping one by one on sunnier days.

Only thing I can contribute is a hamamelis "magic fire." Which is new this year, 50% off fall sale!

This message was edited Feb 18, 2013 12:32 PM

Wonderful photos, Weerobin! I'm happy to see a good show on my cutting grown Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'.

Last week saw, and smelled, my very first ever and only bloom on Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox is just about done now.

They are nice. I wish they lasted longer though.

incredible fragrance for such a modest flower