The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - early daffodils...
While Mediterranean flowers were in bloom in the Great Glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in the first week of January, outside there were a few colourful surprises so early in the year.
These included daffodils, which traditionally just about manage to appear in time for St David’s Day, our national day in Wales, on March 1.
As well as these signs of spring, there were also still some of last year’s autumn leaves as well as the more usual winter Hellebores and Daphne. Three seasons in one…
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - 'autumn' leaves?
It has, of course, been a very mild winter, compared to last year’s ice and snow. See the botanic garden this time last year here.
Here are some of my pictures from January 2012…
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - dogwood, Cornus alba 'Sibirica'...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Galanthus nivalis, snowdrop ...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - the Great Glasshouse...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - the pink blossom is highly-perfumed Daphne...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Middleton House
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - rainbow over the visitor centre...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - a closer view of the rainbow's end...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - dragonfly sculpture
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - seedheads
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Sedum seedheads
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - 'autumn' leaf of compact Liquidambar styraciflua Gum Ball...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Hellebore...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Hellebore
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - metal waterlily
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - looks a bit like a Pieris to me...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - statue I haven't seen before in the walled garden - I guess the concrete blocks aren't permanent...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - water feature
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - I love moss...
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - I think this is Tortula muralis, wall screw-moss
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - wooden statue of a musician
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012 - Narcissi
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in January 2012
Just another reminder that entry is free at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire throughout January 2012.
The Squirrelbasket 
On the news this morning – that there are 63 varieties of wild plants flowering in Cardiff at present. Only 20 might be expected. Due to 2011 being the second mildest year on record. (Think I have this right!)
Yes, I think this sort of thing has been all over the TV and newspapers. I just wonder what will happen in Spring if everything has already bloomed once. Will it start again or will everything just look very tired?
I’m still waiting for the crunch as in other years if we haven’t had a freeze early, we’ve had one late 🙂
Wow. I thought we were having a mild winter here on Vancouver Island, but this is really something.
Well, I suppose it makes up for last year’s freeze.
I particularly liked your cyclamen painting, by the way 🙂
Thank you!
So nice to see the daffodils narcissi and crocuses of Wales. Although I lived in the Powys area I never visited the Botanical Gardens.Must do that when I take my trip to England again.
Thanks for dropping by to check out my blog. Didn’t realise you were near to Cosmeston. I have followed this years dig on line.
It’s too early for me to long for daffodils… beautiful pics… I did see tulips at the store this week.
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