Spring on Steroids

The mild winter followed by a warm early spring has resulted interesting flower combinations I never planned for. Flowering cherry, tree peony and mid-season tulips all in flower at the same time.

The cherry was pruned last summer resulting in many more flower clusters.

 

Prunus 'Shirofugen'

Very Early Spring

We had plenty of rain this winter, though no  flooding, and it's been well above freezing for most of the winter. In the 10 years we've been in this garden, I never had to prune rampant ivy at this time of year. 
The scent of spring it's been in the garden for a while now. Hellebores, snowdrops and early daffodils have been out for almost a month.
Because of the warm weather I decided to prune the roses early, it is not often that I get to prune roses in bloom in mid-February.

I hope we are not caught out by late snow. 

Rosa 'Malvern Hills' taken 19th January 2014