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The black and the white in contrast and harmony. Flowers of Galanthus S.Arnott are in direct colour contrast to black leaved Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens.

Winter sun makes such a difference in highlighting form and colours , but this pale yellow Witch Hazel( which Hazel ? ), Hamamelis x intermedia Pallida.

If Narcissus Rijnvelds Early sensation was called Early Spring Magic , perhaps it would be more widely planted. It is usually in flower about a mont healer than other Daffodils and is a real joy each late winter.

On the verge of flowering of some weeks , this annually trimmed erica x darleyensis Silbeschmelze is about to be massed in white flowers and buzzing with bees.

Underplanted with Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens and Eranthis hyemalis, this is a 40 year old Hamamelis which flowers freely every winter, It is named Jelena , after plantswoman Jelena de Belder, and is one of the best of all witch Hazels.

A low growing conifer whose finely cut foliage is bright green in summer , is now in late winter a district bronze particularly in a sunny situation.Originating from Siberia, Microbiota decussata is of course very hardy.

The “aconites” are’ here today and almost gone tomorrow’ depending on the early spring temperatures, but still surprise ( partly because you forgot where you planted them) with their vibrant early show.

For contrast this Hamamelis x intermedia Diane would be best against a bluish coloured evergreen such as a Blue Spruce (Picea pungens selection), or a blue foliaged Fir such as Abies procera Glauca.

Flower Power for almost any size of garden. Look for Helleborus hybrid Walberton Rosemary for a winter long display of stunning flowers.

The Witch Hazels come in various colours , There’s even one called ‘Orange Peel “ and you can see why from the shredded look of some of the shredded looking petals that make up the flower, This is a cultivar at Foggy Bottom called Frederic.

The recent cold wether has done some damage to plants in the gardens and also delayed flowering. Here Daphne bholua Jaqueline Postill lost its leaves in the frost but is still waiting to flower when the weather warms up a little.

Tight in bud and likely to stay there is Magnolia stellata Waterlily , although the force of nature will soon be unstoppable and the double lightly scented flowers will be open and revealed

Plants can be looked at on their own but are best when they can be planted in combination with others.The grass-like foliage of golden leaved Luzula sylvatica Aurea( a rush ) and Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens ( a member of the lily family) serve as foils to the early flowers of Galanthus S. Arnott.

Making a rather speeding and prickly bush which needs some shade in the garden, is one of the stalwarts of the Mahonia family , Mahinia bealii which has racemes of sweetly fragrant flowers about now.

S. Arnott drifts

S. Arnott

S. Arnott clumps

The Summer Garden even in February has interest as the Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire blends into the distant “fire “ in the Winter Garden. Upright conifers provide the structure.