Witch Hazel and Primroses

Witch hazel bush

The witch hazel comes out in flower really early in the year and is flowering now  beautifully. The most usual kind is yellow but mine is called Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' and is a really rusty colour and smells wonderful.

Branch of witch hazel

Witch hazel is virtually maintenance free and does not suffer from pests or diseases. It is tolerant of acid and alkaline conditions It will grow to 10 or 20ft high but can be kept smaller by pruning it when it has just finished blooming to give the flowering buds a chance to develop. To keep it small, as I have to in my garden, try not to remove the flower buds which are more rounded than the leaf buds. 

Witch hazel close-up

Witch hazel attracts bees, winter active insects and early pollinators when other plants are asleep. 

The other plants looking good at the moment are primroses, some of which have been out all winter. They like this garden and grow all over the place. Since I have had such difficulty with snowdrops,I am really happy that primroses love this garden. 

Primroses, which have been flowering all winter

I have one flower on my Japanese quince. This is the third  quince I have tried to grow and this one  has survived the winter so I am hopeful for it. They are another winter-flowering shrub and pretty small, so good for this garden. 

One flower on my Japanese quince

Just a quick sketch of the crocuses in the garden which still cover the ground under the apple tree