This Week at the Gardens: February 17th

Do you have the feeling winter is lasting FOREVER this year? Me too.

Hellebore in February

But take heart: these pictures were taken the day before the Big Snow. As it continues to melt, this is what awaits us! Come out and find your own signs of spring.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops (Galanthus) pushing up through the leaves can be seen at the very west end of the Rock Alpine Garden and also up and down Shady Lane.

Hellebores

Hellebores (Helleborus) in white, pink, and even deep red and black are some of winter’s best compensation! Find them in the Waring Garden, the Rock Alpine Garden, along Shady Lane, and elsewhere.

Also in the always precocious Waring Garden you can spot blooming Erica (heath)

Erica

and of course the shredded-wheat yellow flowers of the Witch Hazel (Hamamelis),

Witch Hazel

which can appear as early as January.

Crocus Leaves

Don’t miss the tiny green leaves of crocus, planted all over the Gardens. Once the snow is gone, the crocus flowers will soon open! And I even caught some peony shoots (Paeonia) checking out the scene on a sheltered bank of the stream in PlantAsia.

Peony Shoots

Though they won’t be in bloom till April or May, just seeing their vibrant red stems makes me feel as though Spring is in sight!