The merry month of May

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Scottish_garden_Bluebells_May_2023 — Bluebells in sun and shade under a Laburnum tree. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. Welcome to my favourite blog post of the year:) Yes, it’s May, and it’s the most colourful time of the year in my garden. I have a few images to share which capture what’s been happening in the garden over the month. The weather has been mostly dry and a bit overcast, but these past few days have seen things turn warm, sunny and bright.

Mountain_cornflower_and_Bluebell_Scotish_garden_border — Centaurea and bluebell raised bed. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

May is all about Bluebells, Azaleas and Rhododendrons in the garden. The Bluebells haven’t lasted as long as usual due to the lack of rain. The bulbs in the shade are still looking vibrant, and now the Centaurea are coming out, there is even more blue around. All the Azaleas and Rhododendrons are out in full flower now, and are thriving. The colours are strong and vibrant and seem to glow in the sunshine.

Scottish_May_Azaleas_and_Rhododendrons_2023

Red_and_deep_pink_Scottish_garden_Azaleas_and_rhododendrons

Golden_Yellow_Azalea_Scotland_May_2023 — The many colours of Azalea and Rhododendron. Image: May 2023

Earlier in the month, the Tulips were in flower, but like the Bluebells, they weren’t around for very long. These are two of my favourites.

Early_May_2023_Scottish_garden_tulips — May favourite tulips. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Aquilegia and Lupins have flowered a couple of weeks earlier this year. They really do enjoy the sunshine and are in all the sunny beds and borders of the garden, with the exception of this one which is growing out of the old wall at the top of the garden. Not sure where it came from, and it hasn’t seeded in any other part of the garden, but it is very striking and a fabulous colour.

Scottish_garden_violet_Aquilegia — Wall-growing Violet Aquilegia. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

First_garden_lupins_May_2023 — First of the Lupins. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

There are plenty of Welsh poppies all around the garden again this year. The birds will be especially pleased when the seed heads are ripening.

Scottish_garden_Welsh_poppies_May_2023 — Golden Welsh poppies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

As well as the joy all these colourful flowers bring, it has been a happy time with the arrival of a new visitor to the garden. I had seen a few glimpses of an adult red squirrel over the lockdown months, but how delightful it was to see this baby the other morning enjoying the spills from the bird feeder and taking a drink from the container of water we leave out for the birds. He/she has been back a few times, but is so quick, it is hard to capture, hence my not very good pictures.

Perthshire_garden_baby_red_squirrel_May_2023 — New garden visitor. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for another month. I’ll be back in the kitchen next month. Until then, take care and enjoy the sunshine.

April out of doors

April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Easter_weekend_2023_apple_orchard_West_Dean_Gardens_West Sussex — Spring flowers galore, West Dean gardens, West Sussex. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. What a lovely time of year it is for flowers and foliage. I thought I would reflect on the month just gone by and post some images of things I have seen when I have been out and about these past few weeks.

Over Easter, I travelled down to England to visit my family in West Sussex. One of our favourite places to visit is West Dean gardens near Chichester. Until this year, I have only visited in mid to late Summer to see the wide variety of fruit and vegetables that are grown there. In early April, the grounds were covered in wild spring flowers and it made for a very pretty scene indeed.

Scottish_garden_primroses_on_a_sunny_April_day — Sunshiny garden primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back in the garden at home, there are primroses galore, and the grass verges and local woodlands are also decorated with these pretty yellow blooms. My favourite spring flowers, Snakeshead Fritillary, are also out in bloom in the garden, along with lots of Muscari and the first of the new season Bluebells.

April_garden_flowers_in_a_Scottish_garden — April garden flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_countryside, Loch_Monzievaird_April_2023 — Loch Monzievaird, Perthshire. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Out on a walk last weekend, just a few miles from where I live, there were plenty of primroses growing on the grassy banks of the loch. The golden clumps certainly helped liven up a dull-weather afternoon. The trees are just coming to life now, although I’m not sure how much longer some of them will stay upright given the activity of the local beaver population!

Scottish_garden_Hydrangea_before_and_after_pruning — April garden tasks: Hydrangea pruning. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The things-to-do-in-the garden list is beginning to lengthen now that the plants (and weeds!) are growing again. Just as I pruned the old heads off this aged Hydrangea bush there was an overnight frost, but fortunately no damage was done. I managed to cover the fruit trees with fleece before the frost descended. Lots of lovely blossom again this year which I hope means plenty of fruit if the bees and insects get busy.

Blue_sky_April_morning_over_a_Scottish_garden — April morning blue sky. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

April_fruit_tree_blossom — Cherry and pear blossom. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’ll leave you where I began, with one more image of Fritillaria, captured in West Dean gardens on Easter Saturday. Until next time, thanks for stopping by. See you again soon 🙂

West_Dean_Gardens_Snakeshead_Fritillary — Easter Snakeshead Fritillary. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

End of March in the garden

March 26, 2023March 26, 2023 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

End_of_March_2023_Scottish_garden_Daffodils — Delightful Daffodils. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. Today is the first day of British Summer Time here in the UK. The clocks went forward an hour last night, so we will be enjoying longer days from now on until the Autumn.

It hasn’t really felt very summery today though. We have had a mixture of sunshine and light hail storms, and tonight the temperature is due to drop below zero here in central Scotland. No matter, the garden is colouring up nicely so I thought I would share some of the sights and scenes from my garden today.

Scottish_garden_Chionodoxa_lateMarch_2023 — Spring blue carpet of Chionodoxa. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_garden_Dogtooth_violetes_March_2023 — Dogtooth violets growing in the rockery. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Pink_Hyacinth_and_Grape_Hyacinths_or_Muscari — Lone pink Hyacinth and the first Muscari in bloom. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

As ever, at this time of year, the paths and borders are covered with the tiny, blue Chionodoxa flowers. The bees were all over them earlier in the week when it was milder. The Dogtooth violets are coming towards an end now, but this one looked so exotic today, I couldn’t resist taking another photo. The pink Hyacinth above has been flowering every year for over 10 years. It was a potted house plant that I popped in the ground and it has been here every spring since.

End_of_March_2023_Tete_a_Tete — Tête a Tête. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Late_March_2023_Scottish_garden_Forsythia — Golden Forsythia in full bloom in the sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Pink_and_white_Scottish_spring_heather — A tumble of pink and white spring heather. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Like the Daffodils at the top of my post, there are clumps of Tête a Tête everywhere. I love their sweet fragrance. The old Forsythia gets cut back every Autumn because it becomes much too big for the area it is growing in. It is very old and too established to move, but it seems to cope with the pruning and this year it is very colourful indeed.

Old_apple_tree_in_Scottish_garden_end_of_March_2023 — Spring sunshine on the old apple tree. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

The old apple tree is still looking a bit sad, but I can see buds forming now, and in a few short weeks, hopefully the tree will be covered in blossom again.

The rhubarb is coming along now. The fine red stems look very tempting, but I will save them until they grown a bit longer. As well as the spring flowers, the garden is busy with feathered friends. One in particular sings most of the day and often into the night. I can rely on the robin for some company whenever I’m in the garden, and today was no exception 🙂

Scottish_spring_rhubarb_and_garden_robin — New stems of spring rhubarb and my garden friend. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I hope you have enjoyed my images this week. I will be back in the kitchen next time, so I hope to see you again then.

Late winter/early spring

February 25, 2023February 25, 2023 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Snowdrops_Tay_riverbank_Perth_Scotland_February_2023_ — Snowdrops in the wild. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. Thank you for stopping by. So, here we are at the end of another month. A chance for me to take a look back on what’s been happening out of doors since my last post.

Scottish_garden_snowdrops_February_2023 — Garden snowdrops, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s been a bumper year for snowdrops here in central Scotland. Along the roadside verges, riverbanks and country walkways, the tiny white bulbs are flowering prolifically. And, in my own garden, there are green and white clumps of the delicate little flowers in the beds, borders and paths all over the place.

Pink_and_white_Scottish_garden_Hellebores_February_2023 — New season Scottish garden Hellebores. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Yellow_and_white_crocus_and_primroses_in_flower_February_2023 — February crocus and primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Other spring classics are opening up in the garden as well. In the shady borders, the Hellebores are unfurling, as are the primroses. In the sunshine, the crocus are flowering and giving bold, bright, blasts of colour all over the garden.

Early_pink_Scottish_garden_rhododendrons_February_2023 — Pale pink Rhododendrons, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The delicate pink Rhododendrons are blossoming in the back and front garden. Fingers crossed that the frost keeps at bay.

Late_winter_early_spring_Scottish_pink_and_white_heather_February_2023 — Early spring heather, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

More hardy are the spring heathers. I haven’t seen many bees yet, but there are some tempting blooms out there in wait for our important little pollen collectors.

New_rhubarb_shoots_February_2023 — Garden rhubarb and rabbits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Very happy to see the first of the garden produce beginning to grow. Looking forward to my first harvest of fresh pink stems in a few weeks time.

My final image this week is of a glorious winter sunset I captured at the beginning of the month, and it was a real beauty.

February_2023_Scottish_sunset — Early February sunset. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for this month. I will be back with a recipe post very soon. Until then, have a good few days and enjoy the unfurling of spring.

Autumn into winter

November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Scottish_garden_Autumn_frost_November_2022 — The first ground frost of Autumn 2022. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

As another month draws to a close, it’s been a rather wet and dreary end to the season of Autumn here in central Scotland. Photographically speaking, there have been very few blue-sky days to capture the warm, glowing colours of this time of the year. Nevertheless, I have a few images which I hope convey the natural glory of the month just passing.

River_Earn_Perthshire_Scotland_late_November_2022 — Late Autumn, River Earn, Perthshire, Scotland. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago whilst out on a walk along the local riverbank. Even though the sky was a dull grey and the waters looked cool and steely, the colours of the leaves still clinging to the trees looked spectacular.

Golden_Acer_leaves_November_2022 — Golden leaf colour. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back home in the garden at the same time, the Japanese Maple (Acer) tree was ablaze with glowing yellow leaves. But following a few heavy downpours and some strong winds, the last of the leaves have fallen.

November_2022_sunrise_over_a_Scottish_garden — November sun-rise and sun-up. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Usually, the month of November brings with it glorious sunsets and sunrises, but I have only managed to capture one sunrise, and that was during the last week. You can see the same Maple tree now bereft of leaves in the early morning sunshine.

Nerines_in_flower_in_November_2022 — A welcome splash of vibrant pink. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Throughout the month, these Nerines have been giving a very welcome show of bright pink colour. They look so exotic and fragile but are incredibly hardy. Still going strong is the planter of Bidens and Astors I planted back in June. Such great value. Usually by now the planter is full of bulbs ready for spring but I can’t bring myself to dig these bedding plants up just yet.

Late_flowering_Bidens_and_purple_Astors_November_2022 — Still flowering in the Autumn sunshine. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

And so to a reminder that winter is just around the corner. The holly hedge is abundant with great clusters of berries this year, as is the snowberry bush in the back garden. I hope this isn’t a sign of a particularly cold winter ahead. It’s been a good year for blueberries as well. This late variety is still ripening at a rate of a small handful a week.

Holly_berries_Snow_berries_and_late_Autumn_blueberries_end_of_November_2022 — Red, white and almost blue, late Autumn berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Thanks for stopping by. Until my next post, take care and keep warm 🙂

Autumn vibes

September 24, 2022September 24, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Japanese_maple_leaves_against_a_blue_sky — Blue sky and autumn leaves. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. It’s been a lovely weekend so far here in central Scotland. Lots of sunshine and blue sky which really shows off these Japanese maple leaves, slowly on the turn from green to gold, and finally to red before they fall. The temperature has dropped a few degrees, and the forecast is for a much cooler week ahead, so I think the new season has well and truly arrived.

Pink_Scottish_heather_Autumn_2022 — Scottish autumn-flowering heather. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The garden is still looking quite flowery which is good news for the bees. It’s been a great year for all the heathers, with the autumn varieties looking particularly pretty and laden with tiny blooms.

White_Hydrangea_fading_in_late_September — Fading white Hydrangea.. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The well-established white Hydrangea shrub has been heavy with flowers this year. A victim of its own success, its thin stems and branches have bowed with the weight of all the flower-heads. Whilst most have a pinkish or brown tinge, there are still one or two perfectly white blooms visible with their pin-head-sized tiny blue centres.

Blue_and_pale_pink_Campanulas_September_2022 — Late flowering Campanulas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Campanulas have been out in flower for a while. I keep trimming away the spent flower-heads and new ones have been forming lower down the stems which is why they are still flowering so late in the year. The same goes for the deep-pink Verbascum which is now flowering for the third time this year.

Flowering_in_late_September_deep_pink_Verbascum — Deep pink Verbascum. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

When I was out in the garden today, I was happy to see so many bees and flying insects enjoying the flowers and sunshine as much as I was. All the lavender bushes in the garden have a few late sprigs of flowers which these insects particularly love.

Autumn_flowering_lavender — Autumn lavender flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s not all blue, purple and pink in the garden, the Rose of Sharon has produced a few more golden yellow flowers which have a waxy-look to the petals in the sunshine.

Rose_of_Sharon_flowers_late_September_2022 — Second flowers on Rose of Sharon (Hypericum). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

My final image is of my favourite Lupin which has broken my back garden record this year, with its third flowering of the year. It’s not fully open yet but it’s not far off. All the other Lupin bushes have died down completely yet this one has stayed lush and healthy. Alongside is one of my Borage flowers; these have only just decided to put in an appearance this week. Better late than never though 🙂

Late_September_lupin_flower_and_flowering_borage — Third flowering Lupin and the first Borage flowers of the season. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I hope you have enjoyed my images this week. I will be back in the kitchen for my next post. Until then, take care and thanks, as always, for stopping by.

Summer garden

July 9, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 6 Comments

July_flowers_and_shrubs_in_a_Scottish_garden — My Scottish country garden early July 2022. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Summer is in full swing as I sit down to type my post this week. There’s been plenty of sunshine this week and the garden is in full bloom. I haven’t been able to spend as much time outside as I would have liked these past few days but I have managed to capture a few highlights to share with you in my post this week. I hope you enjoy them.

July_2022_summer_lavender_with_bee — Summer lavender. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Along the front of the house and in several of the sunny borders, the lavender grows very well. The bees love it and the perfume in the warm breeze was heavenly as I took these pictures.

Blue_hebe_and_yellow_brachyclottis — Blue Hebe and Yellow Brachyclottis. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

These 2 shrubs have been sitting side by side for years. Both have done very well this year and are packed with flowers. I love blue and yellow combinations; the garden has quite a few plants in these colours. Below are Campanulas which grow all over the garden, and Lysimachia which takes over one whole flowerbed at this time of year with a blaze of sunny blooms.

Campanulas_and_Lysemachia — Blue Campanula and yellow Lysimachia. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m not sure where this fine fellow came from. Perhaps a seed from the bird food brought in to the greenhouse by a mouse? For a while, back in the spring, I thought it was a self-seeding courgette plant (!) but as it grew taller, I realised what it was. Rather challenging to capture because of its position up against the glass, hence the sideways angle. I am going to leave it to dry out and then feed the birds with the seeds.

Greenhouse_sunflower — My rogue sunflower. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

For several years I have been trying to grow Himalayan poppies in the garden. I have tried several spots, and only ever managed to achieve a flower once. So last year, I dug up my latest attempt and put it in a pot in the shadiest spot I could find. I kept it watered and, lo and behold, it has had 3 beautiful blooms from a tall and willowy single stem.

Scottish_grown_Mecanopsis — Mecanopsis (Himalayan poppy). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s not all blue and yellow in the garden, there are some pinks here and there as well. I grew this rather odd looking Dianthus from seed last year and was delighted to see that it has come back again with more blooms than ever. It’s called Superbus which I like to pronounce as Super bus 🙂 The pink Kalmia is a very old shrub in the garden, but it’s produced another fine display of flowers this year.

Dianthus_and_Kalmia — Dianthus Superbus and Kalmia. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

More blue from these dynamic looking Hydrangeas. This one started life a deep red colour but has reverted back to the blue which I believe is because the soil here is acidic. I was surprised to see a couple of Japanese anemones out in flower already this week. Very early for this garden.

Blue_Hydrangea_and_early_pink_Japanese_anemone — Blue Hydrangea and an early pink Japanese anemone. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

And finally, I am rather proud of my barrel container of plants. Usually home to runner beans or potatoes, this year I decided to plant it with flowers instead. Planted at the end of May, they have been flowering non stop for 6 weeks, so I am well chuffed. There is a combination of Viola “Dawn”, Nemesia “Evening Dusk”, Brachyscome “Brasco Violet” and yellow Bidens.

Barrel_of_bedding_plants — My barrel of bedding plants. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Enjoy the sunshine and I will be back posting again soon. Until then, my best wishes to you as always.

Magnificent May

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Mid-May_in_a_Scottish_garden — Blossom and bluebells in mid May. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. What a colourful month it has been in the garden. May is my favourite month of the year for the sheer variety of plants and flowers springing to life. I hope you enjoy the images I have been capturing over the past 3 weeks of my garden as it bursts into bloom.

Lord_Derby_apple_tree_in_May_2022_in_bloom — May 2022 Apple blossom season. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The apple blossom this year was remarkable. I took these images about 10 days ago. The petals have now dropped and the fruit is beginning to set. Fingers crossed for a bumper harvest.

Scottish_garden_bluebells_May_2022 — May 2022 bluebells. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

There has been another carpet of bluebells all over the garden. Those in the lighter borders are beginning to go over now, but the ones in the shadier parts are still vibrant and fresh.

Scottish_garden_red_Rhododendron_May_2022

The best in the garden this month has to be the many colours and varieties of Rhododendrons and Azaleas in flower. They love the acidic soil here and always do very well.

May_Himalayan_cornflowers_and_Welsh_yellow_poppies — May garden borders. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

These two flowers, the Himalayan cornflower and the yellow Welsh poppies will continue to flower throughout the next 3 months or so in the garden. Great value, low maintenance and lovely bright colours. Below, under a blue sky earlier this week, the golden yellow Laburnum flowers look stunning.

Scottish_Laburnum_tree_in_bloom_in_May_2022 — Laburnum in full glory. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m back to where I started with my images. The image below was taken a couple of days ago. You can see that the apple blossom has finished. There are still a few bluebells about, but now the lupins are on their way and it won’t be long before the peonies open.

Scottish_garden_end_of_May_2022 — The garden this week. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

To finish my post this week, not only is the garden full of flowers at the moment, it is visited by many birds collecting food for their babies. This fellow, rather scruffy in attire, has been my companion in the garden this week. I am amazed at how many sultanas he can fit in his beak!

Until next time, take care and enjoy the sights and scents of the season.

Garden_Blackbird_collecting_food_May_2022 — My garden companion, Scruffy the Blackbird. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

End of April in the garden

April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Large_clump_of_Scottish_primroses — Primroses in their prime. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. What a glorious time of the year it is in the garden. Some of my favourite plants and flowers are at their best right now, and this year so many spring flowers seems to be blooming better than ever.

The primroses started flowering in March, but the clumps of flowers are just getting bigger and bigger. They grow at their best in the dampest, shadiest part of the garden, and they really bring these borders to life. The Hellebores are beginning to go over now having been flowering for several weeks. They become more upright the longer they have been blooming which makes them so much easier to photograph.

Established_Hellebore_flowers_beginning_to_fade_in_late_spring — Hellebores fading gloriously. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

The new kids on the block are the bluebells. We’ve had a few chilly, grey days here, but now things are brightening up again, the pretty blue flower heads are opening up all over the garden.

Scottish_garden_bluebells, April_2022 — First of the bluebells. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Another spring favourite of mine are the unusual looking Snakeshead Fritillary. Alongside the well known pink variety with it’s petals patterned like snake’s skin, a white variety has also become established.

White_and_pink_Snakeshead_fritillary — White and pink Snakeshead Fritillary. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Chionodoxa that runs wild all over the paths and flowerbeds from late February into March has been replaced by tiny violets. They have a delicate delicious sweet fragrance as well as looking so pretty.

Scottish_garden_violets — Garden violets. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I am very happy to see all the small fruit trees in full blossom now. I am looking forward to a good crop of Morello cherries again (fingers crossed). There seem to be lots of bees around so hopefully they are doing a good job of helping to set the fruit. Only the miniature apple tree is in blossom at the moment, but I can see quite a lot of flower buds on the large tree so with a few warm days, I think they will open up.

Morello_cherry_conference_pear_and_Victoria_plum_blossom — Late April fruit blossom – Morello cherry, Conference pear and Victoria plum. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Apple_blossom_late_April_2022 — First of the apple blossom. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

One of my favourite annual tasks in the garden is dead-heading the Hydrangeas. I can stay upright for this job, little bending or kneeling is required, unlike most of the gardening chores.

Dead-heading_Hydrangea_flowerheads_in_spring — Hydrangea haircut – before and after. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Bucket_of_dried_hydrangea_flower_heads — Dried Hydrangea flower heads. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I hope you have enjoyed my pictures of spring. May is just around the corner which means even more colour in the garden. Looking forward to the warmer, even longer days, so until next time, enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of this special time of the year. Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Red_and_yellow_garden_tulips — Bold and bright tulips. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish snowdrops

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Garden_snowdrops_growing_by_tree_roots — Garden snowdrops in the February sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

It has been a lovely sunny day here today, so different to the weather we experienced in the middle of the week. My post to round off the month is one that I had intended to write last year but never quite got all the images together in time. Now more than ever, it seems very fitting to write about this peaceful-looking, delicate little flower, a symbol of hope for many, and one that brings signs of new life and spring at this time of year.

Heavy_February_snowfall_Perthshire_2022 — Snow-fall earlier this week. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

The snowdrop (Galanthus nivalus) is one of the first signs of spring for many of us. Although they look so fragile and vulnerable, they are very hardy, and I can prove it. After several centimetres of snowfall this week, every single one in the garden has bounced back completely unharmed.

The pure white flowers with their bright green flashes can be found all over Europe from the beginning of the year onwards. They are native to southern Europe. In the UK, their history is a bit unclear but they have been noted in garden journals for a few hundred years, escaping to the wild some time later. During the Crimean War of the 1850’s, the hills surrounding the battlefields were reportedly covered in snowdrops. Soldiers returning from this war brought the bulbs back to their wives and sweethearts in the UK, and the Crimean snowdrop (Galanthus plicatus) took up its residence as part of the British landscape. There are over 2000 varieties of snowdrop, and the national collection of 350 varieties are grown on the Cambo Estate in Fife, East Scotland.

Scottish_garden_snowdrops_on_a _sunny_February_day__2022 — Snowdrops in my garden today. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

In February last year, I was taking a walk around some nearby country roads, admiring the scenery and enjoying the peace. Monzie is a small hamlet at the foothills of the Highlands, right behind the town where I live. I had never done the walk at this time of the year so it was a lovely surprise to round the corner in the road and come across so many wild snowdrops growing over the banks, over the old stone bridge and in the grounds of the local church, Monzie Kirk.

Scottish_snowdrops_growing_by_a_couontry_road — Roadside snowdrops. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Monzie_bridge_covered_in_snowdrops — Snowdrop-covered Monzie bridge. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

February_2022_Monzie_kirk_with_snowdrops — Monzie cemetery and Kirk. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

When I was taking the photographs today in the garden, I noticed a couple of flower-heads had upturned. This is the first time I have seen the underside of the petals. Very pretty they are too.