Heavenly Hellebore - February 2017

This week we are starting off in my garden, where I finally have a flower to show you! So, drum roll please, I present to you my first Hellebore (Helleborus) of the year, which is of the variety 'Double Ellen'.

I was actually quite surprised to see this, as I'd only received the plants as small plug plants a couple of weeks ago, and hadn't expected them to flower quite so soon - if at all this year.

Hyacinth Delft Blue - February 2017

Meanwhile, the rest of my garden was slowly coming to life again. The Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) 'Delft Blue' were just emerging from underneath their mulch of bark chippings...

Iris Harmony - February 2017

...as were the Iris (Iris reticulata) 'Harmony'.

Peony Shirley Temple - February 2017

My second Chinese Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) was also showing signs of life, this one being a variety called 'Shirley Temple'.

Frog Face - February 2017

The plants weren't the only things in my garden that were stirring into life. The pond was a frenzy of activity with frisky Frogs (Rana temporaria) doing what comes naturally for most of the day!

Protector - February 2017

After their excitement, the vigilant parents then stood guard over the results of their liaison...

Frogspawn - February 2017

...ensuring predators didn't come in and eat their precious developing offspring.

Camellia - February 2017

Meanwhile over in dad's garden, the flowers seemed to be a few weeks further on than my own. The Camellia bush had finally broken into bloom, and was the first of a trio of new flowers.

Flowering Quince - February 2017

The flower buds from the second Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles) bush had also started to open up and reveal their pretty dark red flowers.

Forsythia - February 2017

The Forsythia (Forsythia intermedia) flower buds were also opening at a rate of knots, and I predict that within a couple of weeks, the whole bush will be covered in these bright yellow coloured blooms.

Crocus - February 2017

A couple of sunny afternoons had also encouraged the Crocus flowers to completely open up to enjoy the bright conditions...

Clump - February 2017

...and the Snowdrops (Galanthus) were forming many more clumps than there had been in the past. This was good news for me, as I was eager to break up a few of the clumps and transport them back to my own garden!

Winter Honeysuckle - February 2017

The Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) was now putting on a marvellous display, and as well as looking nice, the flowers provided a treat for the nose when standing nearby.

Rhododendron - February 2017

With the Camellia already flowering, it was tempting to think that it wouldn't be long before the Rhododendron's followed suit. However, looking back into my photo archives revealed that this particular bush never flowers before April, and sometimes not even until May!

Orchid - February 2017

Indoors at dad's, the final flower buds of the Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) plant I'd been keeping track of for the past few weeks had opened - although there were now two new flower stems to look out for.

The Gallops - February 2017

Finally, what of my photogenic furry photo follower? Well, this week he seemed to be in a dreamworld on his comfy sofa! As he slept away the morning, his eyelids fluttered, he purred and meowed, and his front and back legs moved furiously as he chased down something in his dreams.

So, this week I chose Heavenly Hellebore as my Image of the Week, simply because it is a pretty flower and it was the first one to emerge in my garden this year...