Winter flowers cheer me up
By malverntrev
11 comments
At last we have some real winter! I always think that a few weeks of sub-zero winter temperatures make the garden healthier and I was thinking it would never come this time around. As February begins I see some polyanthus, snowdrops and crocus in the garden and my pair of viburnam bushes flowering by the gate. We also have a broom which has been flowering for months now.
But the star for me is my wintersweet bush, which is now three years old and has doubled in size since last winter to a strapping seven feet high. It was such a small specimen when I bought it to climb up the pergola. Lots of little yellow flowers producing a heavy scent – just the thing to brighten up the spirits on these dull days. What I’m not sure about is how and when to prune it into a ‘flat’ shape against the trellis.
In the conservatory the heater does not let it drop below 4 degrees C, but it has not got above 10 for some time now. We still have geraniums (pelargoniums) flowering and last year’s cyclamen are sprouting leaves again. There is also the rather large money plant which is absolutely covered in little white star-shaped flowers. We have three largish money plants, but this one is the only one which gets a full flower flush, not sure why. Anyway, it makes an impressive sight next to our large cacti.
Nothing like some winter colour to put me in a good mood!
9 Feb, 2012
8 likes
Previous post: Still roses in bloom!
Next post: Indoor colour gives way to outdoor colour
Comments
I've never seen a money tree in bloom, isn't it pretty!
9 Feb, 2012
Got a nice view of the Worcestershire Beacon and North Hill and yes, pretty much in the centre of Great Malvern - but far enough away from the hills to avoid the sun going down too early!
9 Feb, 2012
very nice situation ~ lucky you!!!
9 Feb, 2012
My snowdrops and polyanthus are flowering but I can`t see them anymore as they`re buried in the white stuff, lol, nice to see yours, I`ve had my money plant for over 20yrs, didn`t know they ever flowered, mind you my cacti never do either, have to make do with green, good job its my favourite colour, lol...
10 Feb, 2012
Nice to hear of your winter flowering plants. They certainly brighten the place up :o)
11 Feb, 2012
Is that top photo the wintersweet bush? Like a honeysuckle? I like it very much but I expect it needs sun?
I saw one in the GC but all the plants seem very expensive this year?
11 Feb, 2012
I think the Wintersweet does benefit from sun. Ours was one stem about a foot tall when we got it (reduced from garden centre) and it is being trained into a fan on a trellice to one side of our patio. The patio side of the fan is SW-facing so gets the sun and it is growing like mad - despite copious pruning last summer it is now eight foot high and six foot wide.
I think the money plant flowers because it sits in the conservatory all-year-round and is treated badly (ie not fed and little watered - no water at all Oct-Mar). I could be wrong, but I think the flowers come from this treatment because our other two plants which move around the house/garden inside and out have only a few flowers.
7 Mar, 2012
i think i will still look out for one, i have discovered one bit of the garden gets a little more sun than i originally thought, might be worth a try?? nothing ventured, and all that!!
7 Mar, 2012
My moneyplant is a very neglected plant but still never flowers, I always stand it outside for the summer months, perhaps I should bake it indoors although that seems cruel, I`ve had it too long to mistreat her/him.
7 Mar, 2012
Recent posts by malverntrev
- September Sun
4 Oct, 2012
- More Roses
27 Sep, 2012
- Hibiscus
10 Sep, 2012
- Brazilian Jasmine (Mandevilla)
29 Jun, 2012
- Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis oxygona)
29 Jun, 2012
- Pond Garden
28 Jun, 2012
Members who like this blog
-
Gardening with friends since
18 Sep, 2009 -
Gardening with friends since
10 Sep, 2010 -
Gardening with friends since
13 Feb, 2011 -
Gardening with friends since
9 Aug, 2009 -
Gardening with friends since
6 Sep, 2011 -
Gardening with friends since
22 Oct, 2008 -
Gardening with friends since
9 Aug, 2009 -
Gardening with friends since
2 Nov, 2009
wow! those are doing well ~ looks like spring!
you must be on the sheltered side of the Malverns??
9 Feb, 2012