By Thea Hegland

We were getting comfortable. Daffodils were starting to bloom, the first flowering Cherry blossoms could be found in The Sunken Garden, buds on the flowering Plums were cracking, some Rhododendron shrubs were beginning to flower and the sun was shining. Spring felt imminent…. until winter roared in with snow and freezing temperatures! This is a bitter reminder that we are in the middle of winter and to not get too excited, tempted to put out some tender flowers in the garden.

Rhododendron shrubs were beginning to flower

All this fluctuating temperature is hard on a garden. It can damage spring flowers that have prematurely revealed themselves during the mild winter and cause a significant setback. These few fragile blossoms may never get the opportunity to shine this season if the cold weather continues to linger. Fortunately, most flowers can handle this nasty cold snap and will rebound, it is just the few brave blossoms that ventured out early that will feel the wrath of the winter chill.

Winter making itself present throughout The Gardens

If you are fortunate enough to visit The Gardens covered in a blanket of snow on the ground, you will be stricken with the sleeping garden. The silence is beautiful.

Outside: plants that are currently blooming

• Acer palmatum dissectum (Japanese maple)
• Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel)
• Bellis (English daisy)
• Bergenia (Elephant’s ears)
• Camellia
• Cornus mas
• Correa (Australian fuchsia)
• Cotoneaster
• Cyclamen
• Daphne odora
• Erica (Heather)
• Galanthus (Snowdrop)
• Garrya elliptica (Silk-tassel bush)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
• Jasminium nudiflorum (Winter jasmine)
• Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (Oregon grape)
• Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Pansy
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Pyracantha
• Rhododendron
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Skimmia japonica
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola

Meanwhile, inside the Spring Prelude Garden

Inside: plants that are currently blooming

• Amaryllis
• Anthurium (Flamingo flower)
• Azalea
• Bromeliad
• Camellia
• Cercis
• Convallaria (Lily-of-the-valley)
• Crocus
• Cyclamen
• Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
• Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper bush)
• Erica (Heather)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Iris reticulata
• Kalanchoe
• Loropetalum chinese ‘Razzleberri’
• Magnolia x soulangeana (Saucer magnolia)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Orchid
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Pinus
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Prunus (Flowering plum)
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Sciadopitys verticillate (Japanese umbrella pine)
• Skimmia japonica
• Stromanthe
• Tulipa (Tulip)
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola