On 2014-01-18 18:25:11 +0000, Frank Booth said:

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.co.uk...
On Thu, 16 Jan 2014 16:42:56 +0000, Sacha wrote:

The early primroses are out in their usual spot a couple of miles from
here.

The snow drops and daffs are sort of poking through, they are the
only things showing any signs of fresh life. I'll let you know when
they flower. It's normally a good couple of months from now...

The daffs have been 'poling through' for about 3 weeks here, and a few are
almost in flower (elongated yellow bud stage). They are about a month early.

Planted snowdrops from bulbs last October. Only about 20% of these have come
up which is disappointing, and about half of those have just started
flowering and the other half look blind. Quite a few of the planted bulbs
ended up lying on the soil so something has had had a go at them

Squirrels might have dug them up, perhaps? It may be better if you try
planting them 'in the green' in late spring, once the flowers have died
back but the leaves are still healthy.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to
appear, but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to
appear, but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.

Sorry - snip failure. That was me. And the hazel is still closed.

Wind pollination. That's what catkins are designed for - dangly, easily blown in wind, copious easily released pollen. The female hazel flowers consist entirely of sticky stigma-lobes - no need for petals to attract pollinators.

On Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:25:30 +0000, Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to appear,
but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.

Sorry - snip failure. That was me. And the hazel is still closed.

Another warm day, with sun and no wind for a change. Nice to be outside,
we noticed pretty much most of the bulbs are up. There's even a geranium
blooming, and some rose buds a few days away from flowering.



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 19/01/2014 18:23, Emery Davis wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:25:30 +0000, Nick Maclaren wrote:

In article ,
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
David Hill wrote:

There is virtually damn-all here yet. Hazel, Japonica, Hamamelis and
Viburnum, and a few snowdrops next to a building are starting to appear,
but the bulk of even the earliest bulbs are still dormant.

Sorry - snip failure. That was me. And the hazel is still closed.

Another warm day, with sun and no wind for a change. Nice to be outside,
we noticed pretty much most of the bulbs are up. There's even a geranium
blooming, and some rose buds a few days away from flowering.


No sign of primroses or snowdrops. My snowdrops are timid creatures
that sit there and wait till they know that the crocus (crocuses, crocki
or what ever you want to call them) and daffs are safely blooming before
they dare to show themselves.
I noticed 2 crocus in colour well on the way to being in full flower.

David @ a practically rain free side of Swansea bay, well for today that is.

On 2014-01-19 17:58:20 +0000, kay said:

sacha;997590 Wrote:
On 2014-01-17 13:36:23 +0000, kay said:

More remarkable is that the hazel catkins are already open. The male
ones, that is - the female flowers aren't so much in
evidence.

Yes, I've seen a few of those about, too. What will happen about
pollenation, I wonder,or is it windborne in their case?


Wind pollination. That's what catkins are designed for - dangly, easily
blown in wind, copious easily released pollen. The female hazel flowers
consist entirely of sticky stigma-lobes - no need for petals to attract
pollinators.[/i][/color]

Thanks, Kay. I rather thought that must be the case though I do wonder
what pollinates e.g. Sarcococca, which is flowering like crazy here.
I've seen bumble bees on the Lonicera purpusii on sunny days in winter
but not on the Sarcococcas.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk