The Abingdon Horticultural Society spring show is this weekend. (Thank you to Janet for letting me know). There was an autumn show in 2021, but this is the first spring show since 2020

The Abingdon Horticultural Society was founded in 1885 and so must be one of Abingdon’s oldest societies. The society was established ‘to promote knowledge of and interest in horticulture in Abingdon and its vicinity, and to encourage cottagers in the cultivation of their gardens.’

One garden we can all take an interest in is that of St Ethelwold’s House, from which I have a picture of the white bluebells,

and another of tulips.

Over the other side of the River Thames, the clumps of daffodils are in flower.

It was a showery day, and a rainbow could be seen from Abingdon Bridge.

The clocks changed last night and today was Mothering Sunday. That meant at Trinity Church the younger ones helped make posies of flowers and put them in baskets.

They were then given out to mothers after the service. The preacher spoke about flowers and colours and what they represent. People at Trinity have become aware that the colour scheme is the same as the The Flag of Ukraine.

These flowers of wool have been at the war memorial for the last few weeks.

The garden of St Ethelwold’s House is open on most days and you would not expect there to be a lot of flowers on the last day of January.

The winter aconite has the unusual tactic of producing little ruffs of leaves and popping up yellow flowers in winter.  They may attract some insects who are out during the almost dead of winter. Winter aconite is one of the earliest flowers, and the plant’s spread mostly by tubers underground.

The one flower you might expect are the Snowdrops. They spread via bulb division. However, they may still be visited by insects on a warmer day.

There were also winter flowering irises against a south facing wall.

There were also some primroses but they looked in a bad mood, and did not want their picture taken.

Chelsea Flower Show – The results
21st September 2021 by The British Florists Association

Fabulous Flowers got a Silver-Gilt award in the Floral Installation category. You can see their fabulous installation as the first and best picture at https://www.britishfloristassociation.org/for-the-industry/chelsea-flower-show-the-results/.

The picture above is the Abingdon shop on Saturday.