The fleece comes off

Lovely....you seem very confident about sowing seed and taking the covers off things......do you know something we don't vis-a-vis the weather....lol

Wonderful! What a great collection you have there. Such a pleasure for you. Thank you for sharing them with us! :-))

I found your photos fascinating.
Well done a good day's work :o)

You are so far ahead of us, down there in Buckinghamshire! I agree with taking the fleece of as early as possible. I removed ours earlier in the week to let in light and air and quite accept that I might have to replace them by the end of this week. Very nice Cyclamen and Narcissus.
PS, if your superb 'Golan Heights' sets a lot of seed might I start of by begging a couple or three :-), :-).

That was very interesting indeed.

Enjoyed the blog and the photos are great. Love the 2 Narcissus

Lovely Cyclamen & Narcissus. Do you know if the Cyclamen that we buy in florist shops can now be planted (when Spring arrives) outside, would they survive?? I know the others R great under my Rhodos, some blooming. The ones a friend gave me at Xmas is now outside to get the cool air. They R perky, but do not know if I should just throw them out or SAVE them???do tell.

I love the Golan Heights cyclamen, absolutely a winner.

Just beautiful I lv the Narcissus how delicate they are thanks for sharing.

Firstly thank you all for the comments.
Amblealice, most of the plants will survive the conditions that are forecast now, even a few degrees of frost. Why I covered them before was because we were seeing temperatures that stayed below zero for days on end. The seeds I'm sowing are alpines such as androsace and dianthus which will appreciate a bit of frost and snow to aid their germination.
Bulbaholic, if Golan Heights sets seed you will be welcome to 2,3 or even 4.:-)
Doon, I have been told that the smaller florists cyclamen will withstand temps down to about -2C and I have some planted in a large pot which I've been lifting in and out of our unheated shed as the weather has permitted. The larger more florid ones will be turned to mush by the frost. I personally wouldn't plant any of them in the open garden and would stick to C. hederifolium, C.coum or C.cilicium for the garden. However that is just personal choice and I don't know what your prevailing conditions are. As to keeping them for next year when all the foliage has died down, I have read that the mistake people make is to dry them off completely, a hint of moisture at the roots is needed throughout the summer months to keep them ticking over, whilst keeping the tops dry, so plunging pots in damp sand could work. This is the first time I've ever bothered growing the florists cyclamen (smaller type) and is the regime I'll be following, I'll let you know how I get on.
If anybody else reads this who has any better advice it will be gratefully accepted.

I agree witheverything said in your last para., AG. We have a trough planted up with the 'mini cyclamen'. This was outside until the cold weather came along in December when it was moved to the unheated front porch. During the very cold weather it was moved into the 'inner front hallway' but has now moved back out into the porch. For the summer the trough will live outside with some overhead protection and an occaisional watering, this will have to be overhead because of the nature of the container.

A very interesting blog and photos

i love your sempervivums..;-))

Thanks, will follow your advice, Will not keep them then(from florist) have the other lovely cyclamens that is blooming in my garden now & just such a joy.

Most interesting blog, with some lovely photographs,especially Golan Heights, collecting succulents so was pleased to name another of our no namers (re Semper calc Extra) most of our cyclamen are still frozen, not to death I hope.

Thank you Dottydaisy.
There are several Semp calc clones and forms with similar red tips to the rosette leaves, Extra, Pink Pearl, Sir William Lawrence and Mrs Giuseppi to name but four. I think you have to wait to see flower colour and other characteristics before identifying. So you may have semp calc but not necessarily Extra. Hope your cyclamen emerge from the deep freeze in good condition. My cyc creticum looks very poorly

Thanks, will check on the flowers as and when, have just found a supplier in Hampshire, so will be taking a trip out in the spring.