Our witch hazels are in full bloom and what a show!

 Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena'

This holly is a definite "Wow" for me!   Ilex 'Conty' Liberty (trademark name) is a hybrid which comes from a cross between 'Mary Nell' and 'Red Delight' hollies and has a natural pyramidal form.  In late fall, the branches are smothered in bright scarlet berries which contrast strikingly with the deep green leaves.  Best of all, the berries persist into winter.  

 A glass of OJ or a cup of coffee in the morning can't top beginning your day seeing the beauty of the winter blooms of Camellia japonica.  

Enjoy our parade of Camellia blooms in the weeks to come!  

We begin our parade ...

Camellia japonica 'Tama Electra'

Camellia japonica 'Tama Americana'

 One of my winter chores is to cut back the ratty foliage on our hellebores

Before hellebore cleanup

                                            After hellebore cleanup

                                     My first hellebore to bloom and I                                                             don't remember the cultivar!
                                                           

Helleborus 'Frosted Rose'

Helleborus 'Golden Lotus'

Witchhazels are a winter favorite.  Hamamelis vernalis 'Quasimodo' is a semi-dwarf with a compact spreading habit.   

 'Quasimodo' has small, spider-like, fragrant flowers.

 Joys of late winter in the garden ...

Crocus are peeping through the ground.

Galanthus 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' is an adorable snowdrop.  It is a fully double with nodding white flowers with small green teardrops at the tips of their inner petals. The long, narrow outer petals enclose the inner petals which resemble many layered petticoats. Note the little green teardrops in the photo below.

These snowdrops will happily multiply to form large colonies.  I noticed just this year that I have several more than I did last year, and I am looking forward to enjoying many more!