JC Raulston Arboretum winter flowers.

Visited the JC Raulston Arboretum on January 16th, it was in the 20s if I recall it was cold. We had a few days before a 9 degree night, which did little damage. Here are some of the flowers I found.

The only blooming camellia was this Camellia X vernalis 'Ginryu'. Small blooms around 1 1/2 inch, might have helped it from freezing having small blooms. The arboretum only has a few camellia bushes.

 Snow drops I found only a small patch of them. These are Galanthus plicatus. Wish I could grow these. We had babies under ours last year, not sure if they survived, the chickens might have gotten them.

Lots of Helleborus foetidus  'Pontarlier' in bloom.

Winter Flowering Iris, Iris unguicularis  Every time I see this in bloom in the winter is seems so out of place.

 Fragrant Wintersweet, Chimonanthus praecox This was a new plant for me, the aroma caught me as I was walking by two huge bushes of these in bloom. The blooms are small maybe an half inch. I want some for the garden and I think it might tolerate shade too.

Ozark Witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis This witchhazel really got my attention!

Ozark Witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis 'Quasimodo' This one was the smallest in the garden I almost missed seeing it.

Red Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis xintermedia 'Diane' 
This one had big blooms but fewer of them. I liked it a lot.

 Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis xintermedia 'Aurora' This witchhazel was near the main entrance and it was giving quite the show!

In our garden the only witchhazel has lots of buds, but they have not opened yet.

Winter Spicebush, Lindera chienii  This was a new flowering shrub for me, very interesting and about 12 foot around, very big.

Prunus mume ' Rose bud' This flowering apricot was  just opening up. The gardens had three different Prunus mumes in bloom, the bright sun made for horrible photos.