Early Winter Bulbs

 There’s chill in the air as the afternoons get darker ever earlier. June has brought in the coldest winter ever – just ask anyone over 50 (like me); the thermostat does not bear me out but icy winds seem unusually severe. `Winter is coming’ is the new joke for all of us `Game of Thrones’ devotees (or should that read tragics?).

But the garden bulbs are merrily doing their normal June things: Paperwhite Narcissus are blooming: sweet bread-white tiny cups and saucers with a little scent; some fragrant jonquils, a creamy, wild sort with pale lemon centres; and little bulbs like cerise cyclamen, dumpy winter ones:  Cyclamen coum, some with beautifully silver-splashed leaves. Pink (top) and fat white ones, too. Crocus chrysanthus are raising buds here and there (`Blue Pearl’ (left) and `Snow Bunting’).

Snowdrops are in bud along with diminutive hoop-petticoat daffodils and who knows how many little other beauties, too.

I must keep my eyes out for these enchanting tiny bulbs.

Jill Weatherhead is horticulturist, writer, garden designer and principal at Jill Weatherhead Garden Design who lives in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne, and works throughout Victoria (www.jillweatherheadgardendesign.com.au)