Forsythia, aconites, snowdrops, daffodils…all spotted in the past 24 hours. The new Helleborus niger in our shade garden have just started to flower too, and all manner of bulbs are poking through the accumulated fallen leaves.
Instead of bringing flowers, our kind lunch guests last Sunday brought a couple of dozen Acidanthera bicolor corms – what a lovely idea: so much more welcome than cut flowers, especially at this time of year. I have not  grown these Peacock Orchids before, and they will make a nice addition to the planting in what I plan to do with the main back garden flower beds. Future guests please note!