Eranthis hyemalis - 2009

cute flowers :)

Great photo. I can never get these to grow.

The tubers should not be allowed to dry out. If you've been buying dry ones rather than pots of them in growth, this is probably the problem

you have some lovely spring flowers Andrew, mine are all just little green stubs, well they were, can't really see what is going on under the blanket of snow still present. what is your secrete at getting them up so early? do you think it is just due to area of the country or do you have some tips for us all?

I think it's due to micro-climates. Bracknell is relatively milder than Reading (12 miles to the west) or Maidenhead (10 miles to the north). Also, my garden is sheltered by houses all around and a railway embankment to the west.

ok, so no special trick then lol. my garden is not too bad for shelter, but the front is far better than the back, because of it's long thin shape the wind can rattle along it, but i am hoping that the trellis and planned shrubbery should help with this, so who knows in a year of two maybe my spring bulbs will be in flower as early as yours.

Mine are not showing yet - I did buy another pot of them as I know they don't grow well form corms.

these were v widespread and popular in N Germany when we lived there, called them "Winterlinge" (little winter ones) Pronounced vinterlinga. Just for anyone who feels the need to trot around their garden talking to their spring bulbs in German, sorry, pardon my randomness.
Why does my Mum call them aconites? Is that another, similar flower?

Winter aconite is the common name for them - but don't ask me why!