January has hit us hard here in Kent with north east winds, bitter cold and snow which is still lying on the grass and decorating the garden with icy baubles clinging to leaves and branches. Snowdrops are mostly hidden under the snow but one corner of the garden is bright with the very early narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation which seems to be immune to the cold. it has received an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society which was well deserved as it is an easy going daffodil which quietly increases over time but never seems to develop into large clumps which need to be divided. Ours grows in a warm corner of the garden and is well sheltered from drought and sun by surrounding shrubs.
We are rather pleased that the temperature has dropped as the snowdrops were opening up everywhere and we were worried that they would all be over too soon. The icy weather should hold them back a little so we hope all will be well for our open days at the beginning of February.
