Plants for pollinators in late Winter

Having visited Hodsock Priory on the weekend (mid February), where they not only have a woodland carpeted with snowdrops, but also an ornamental garden, it reminded me of just how many plants are flowering in late winter. So I thought I'd share photos of these, plus some from my own garden, to help give people more idea of what you can plant to help pollinators at this time of the year.

Note, this has been a milder winter. In colder ones such as 2017/18, the plants could flower later.  Unless otherwise noted, these will grow on all soil types (acid, neutral and alkaline). These plants all grow in a temperate climate, in the UK down to hardiness zone H5, circa -15 celsuis, and USDA zones 7 and 8.

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First of all, there are snowdrops (Galanthus). Here's a selection from Hodsock.

 

One of my favourite flowering cherries, Prunus Mume, which has an almond-like fragrance to go with the stunning, stops you in your tracks, pink flower.

Winter flowering honeysuckle, such as the shrub Lonicera fragrantissima, which is indeed incredibly fragrant.

Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis, which seems to prefer neutral to alkaline soil. I found it can flower on acid soil, but is less likely.

Here are Witch hazel (Hamamelis, top left) which is also fragrant, large bushy Lonicera fragrantissima, Eranthus and Galanthus.

Hellebores, which in fact flower all through mild winters.

Iris, the first from Hodsock (unknown variety), the second, Iris histroides 'Lady Beatrix Stanley', from my garden.

Sarcococca, also known as sweet box or Christmas box, another wonderful winter fragrant shrub. The first is Sarcococca confusa from Hodsock, the second is Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna 'Purple Stem' from my garden.

Earlier flowering crocuses, such as the purple one below from Hodsock, probably a C. tommasinianus variety, and Crocus 'Gipsy Girl' from my garden.

Cyclamen, which flowered in February during last years hard winter.

Not forgetting Violas.

And of course, Daffodils, seen here in front of Hodsock Priory itself.

Other plants to add not listed above: Clematis cirrhosa Freckles, which flowers throughout winter, and Mahonia, Willow, Muscari, and Camelias. 

Are any of these late winter flowering plants new to you? Do you have any to add to this list? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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Update 21st Feb: Pauline (below) has also suggested the following - chaenomeles, anemone blanda, scilla sibirica, erica, iris unguicularis, primroses and camellia. Which reminds me that another factor may be where you live. So the further south, the more plants that will be available to pollinators in late winter, whereas this will reduce the further north you go.

Trentham Gardens - sculpture

Earlier in September we visited Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire. I didn't get around to blogging about it due to lack of energy. Since then, Jessica over at Rusty Duck has also visited the gardens, and blogged! As her blog is such a lovely walk around the garden, which I invite you to read, I don't feel I need to repeat what would be a similar blogpost here.

Instead, this is a photo essay of many of the sculptures at Trentham, some in the gardens, some around the lake, in particular, a year-long display of fairies in the garden. It was a rather overcast grey day, and I think the fairies would have preferred the sun, but they still gave their all. I've listed the name of the sculpture where I could find it.

Dandelion

River of Otters, by Gary Burgess

Shaky

Planting by Nigel Dunnet

Glance

Spring, amongst the dandelions

Spring, different angle

Dip

Wishes

Another 'Wishes'

Hare amongst Persicaria

A third Wishes. Three wishes!

Bridget

I enjoy seeing sculpture in gardens and this was a lot of fun. The fairy sculptures will remain at Trentham until 24th December 2018. It will be interesting to see what will appear in the gardens next year.

Garden visit: Renishaw with friends

We visit Renishaw Hall Gardens at least a couple of times a year, and often around bluebell time. This year coincided with Easter and friends. So this is a slightly tongue-in-cheek take on visiting Renishaw Hall Gardens with friends. If you want less people and more bluebells (!), visit my 2015 post.

L-R: Manishta, Kevin, golden cupid thingy in the distance, Kate & J-P.

You get the drill, only this time with moi.

It seems hares do the cat cleaning it's paw thing. Yes, I know it's a sculpture, but my view stands.

As well as bluebells, there were Magnolias.

Manishta drinking of the wine of the Magnolia. Manishta, you can stop now. Really.

It wasn't long after this malarkey that I realised I had no energy to walk any further. We had barely got past the entrance (though I felt like I'd walked miles), but MECFS doesn't care about that. Kevin thought to go back to find out if they had any mobility scooters we could hire. They did, and the hire was free, and what's more, rather than making me walk back, they brought the scooter to me. Being able to use the scooter made all the difference. I had been thinking that Kevin might have to take me home, but instead I was able to continue to enjoy the day with my friends. Thank you Renishaw.

Borrowed landscape with cows.

One of these friends is not like the others.

Manishta: ok, I'll smile then.

Even Ms-I-don't-care-for-camellias (that's me in case you were wondering)

thought the colour looked wonderful against the bluebells.

Two heads are better than one. 

I think this is the Benny Hill element of the visit.

Girls just wanna enjoy bluebells.

Magnolia 'Vulcan'

Rubus spectabilis Olympic Double - thanks to Gill at Off the Edge Gardening for the id.

(previously labelled as a double flowered dog-rose)

Didn't catch it's name. But pretty.

 In case we missed it, J-P demonstrates the shapes arising from the shuttlecock ferns.

 Kate wonders if she can pass.

You shall not pass! So that's a nope, then.

Is she taking photos again?

 Wait for it...

What larks, says J-P.

Wait for it part 2... 

Is that a castle arising from the steps?! 

Unlike Kate, I got passed the statues on my scooter.

It was worth their wrath to see this view. 

If I was them, I'd be opening those windows in the evenings.

Coz who cares about a cold April wind when there is Wisteria fragrance, right?

T'was a wonderful visit. Made the more so because of the use of the mobility scooter. Much of Renishaw is wheelchair/scooter accessible, including the bluebell woods, and they even have a scooter map to show you the best scooter paths.

And, in case you need the incentive, they have a pretty darned good little cafe. Good for sitting in with friends eating yummy food. Both lunch, and afternoon tea ;)

Friends and flowers. It was a fab day.

OMG it ME, says Kate.