late winter flowers

from w
Seems like spring is not too far away even after this very cold winter. Here is a sample from the garden, some self-sown, and the ivy is creeping all over a fence that may have to come down now that the neighbour wants to pull down his little white wooden cottage and build four units to fill most of the block. His new driveway will be along that old fence so looks like a costly business for him and us. What will happen to our two giant gums and a palm tree I wonder. The almond blossoms are already falling but the apricot has barely started budding yet. The orchid alas is deteriorating and already three of the flowers are closing up and going black at the edges.