So. About seven Winter Aconites seem to have made it again and are in flower today. The buds were visible from late February but we had quite a few miserable days which stopped them opening but today is nice and they're doing well in the sunshine.

I really like these flowers because, although they look pretty much like buttercups, they should flower in January as a routine, alongside the Snowdrops.

The ones I've planted flower, consistently, in late February when the Snowdrops are going over and the Tete a tete Daffodils are in full bloom.

This is the second year of Aconite survival and I'm hoping that they eventually come to flower at the same time as the wild ones out and about.

We'll see.

Peter

Hoxne weir with 0.75m on the flow gauge

Just unpleasant at this level. It was nice that the sun came out for a couple of hours.

Peter

Out for a lunchtime walk and noticed that a clump white flowers were a mixture...

Peter

Hoxne weir with 0.5m on the Billingford flow gauge. Left hand shoot, maybe stay close to the bridge support. Nothing too scary. And yes, it was raining.

The Billingford flow gauge on the same day

Peter

Another rainy day, this time at the weir by Mendham Mill

Sadly the natives are not friendly and access requires skirting barbed wire and do not trespass notices.

Peter

A visit to the rainy River Chet at the end of January

The Snowdrops are still doing well

Peter

We had a slightly brighter patch under the otherwise leaden grey sky

Peter

We had some sun in December. The mistletoe I planted on one of the first apple trees to go in to the orchard is now a few years old and looking good. The bottom leaves are within reach of the Muntjacs so have been a little nibbled but it's doing well

The fruits are looking good too

We also had some snow, it didn't last but was nice on the first day

Here's the Fir tree at the end of the drive

which does look a bit better after dark

Peter