The sap is rising! Pruning various Fig trees lately, note the milky white sap at the core of the stem. They are best pruned in late winter when the sap bleeds less. Partly that is for the health of the tree, also for the health of the gardener. 

 I gave myself some nasty blotches of phytophotodermatitis last summer when I cut back a Fig. The milky sap on skin reacts with sunlight to the extent of causing a second degree burn a day or two after exposure. These ones seem to be pretty sappy already, perhaps due to the mild weather

 

 The genus Prunus gives us the first burst of blossom across the land. Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry and Blackthorn are native. So many were planted as hedging they dot the countryside in extant hedgerows and remnants of. In addition numerous species and cultivars have been introduced for cropping and purely ornamental purposes. Cherry blossom time in Britain doesn't compare with Japan, nonetheless there's a lot of it!

 

 Traditionally March is the month to prune Buddleja. In southern England during a warm winter I think February is fine. Buddleja can be cut back hard to the main stems which will put on at least a couple of metres of gangly growth over summer. Certainly the Buddlejas I have been pruning over the past week or two are well under way...

 

Winter silhouettes (Teasels)

 

 Liminal space.

 

 Narcissus 'February Gold' is one of the first daffodils to join the Snowdrops, Winter Aconites and Early Crocus. The very first of the year is probably 'Rijinveld's Early Sensation' which flowers in January or even at Christmas. This cultivar is credited to the noted breeder of narcissi Herbert Chapman circa 1943 so who, what or where was Rijnveld?? 

 

 Is there a more cheery sight in February than Crocus tommasinianus?