Happy New Year everyone! These photos are from a neighbour's garden and mine. 1. Jasminum nudiflorum 2. Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise' 3. Common snowdrops 4. Viola 5. Salvia rosmarinus 6. Helleborus hybridus 7. For contrast, this is a photo just sent to me by a friend from her friend in Vienna - January 1st, 2025.
It was tagged as Helleborus x hybridus (H. x orientalis) but I can't remember which cultivar. For what it's worth, H. niger and H. x nigercors in my garden struggle to thrive but this one is very robust.
You may recall my lament in the 2024 thread about rodents digging up my Crocus bulbs. Well, I discovered today it's not just Crocus bulbs they're after, they also have a liking for lily bulbs. Here's a 1 gallon pot I'd planted up with 3 small bulbs of Lilium 'Fairy Morning' and they found a tasty meal!!!!! So far the rodents have yet to discover this Helleborus 'Mahogany Snow' that has been in bloom for about 2 weeks. Wish they'd go after the Galanthus, they're plentiful enough..
It appears as if the rats have graduated to lily bulbs now! Don't know how recent this is, haven't looked at this bed for a few days, BUT, couple of days ago I caught a healthy looking adult rat in one of the snap traps I'd set out. I suspect there's more to go after though, they don't live solitary. On a happier note, the first of the snowdrops are opening up!
