In the garden late December/early January

I ventured into the garden to see what was braving late December/early January weather and then got sidetracked so am posting this now.  Above is one of the Nemesia Melody series...

...and here's another...

...and another.  They are good value plants.

Hellebores were in flower. Here is Hello White Pearl.

While Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine was just opening up.  The hellebores in pots always seem to flower before the ones in the ground.

There was a cyclamen coum and the start of some snowdrops.

Jasminium nudiflorum (winter flowering jasmine) was bringing its own sunshine to a dull corner.

Camellia Yoimachi flowers enticed me down to the bottom of the garden to look at them more closely.

The ever faithful winter flowering honeysuckle was also in flower.  Of course, a week or so after taking these photos, we had a week of frost and temperatures only just above freezing during the day. Everything was flattened by it, but has recovered.

Winter has arrived

Last week it was much colder, as winter started to make itself felt.  Above is Clematis Wyevale looking beautifully statuesque with a dusting of frost.  

As we were going into the city centre, we were stopped in our tracks by these amazing icy spiders' webs. 

They look so beautiful.

I can't remember ever seeing something similar, although it could be I just wasn't looking!

These are all at the front of the house, along the railings.

Aren't they incredible?

Then on Sunday morning, this is what greeted us.

Even with the frost, ice and snow, this salvia, Cerro Potosi, still had a flower.

The winter flowering jasmine was also braving the temperatures.

I also found two raspberries - one was eaten before I took the photo - and they still tasted good!

The Garden - early January

I was having a wander in the garden, as I do most days, in between the showers and noticed that there is a lot to feel happy about.  Above is winter flowering honeysuckle, which has a lovely scent on a sunny day, but not so much on a day like today. 

In their temporary home, the hellebores are starting to flower.  Above is Hello Ruby...

...and Hello White Pearl, in full flower.  I think it is earlier to flower than last year, despite the December cold snap.

Here is Hellebore Ericsmithii Winter Sunshine in flower too with the faint pink on the creamy green petals.

Cyclamen coum are starting to show themselves...

as is this peony which I repotted in the Autumn.  I need to dig up the two in the borders and pot them up as they have not been happy for some time - too dry and overcrowded for them.  This is a job that I need to do soon.

Camassias starting to grow too. They have enjoyed all the rain we have had recently.

Camellia Yoimachi flowering well.

A burst of sunshine provided by winter flowering jasmine (Jasminum Nudiflorum).  I must remember to prune it after it has flowered otherwise it gets very straggly and unkempt. I was surprised and pleased at how much there is to see in a wet January.  I also have some snowdrops in flower but the photos were too blurry so I'll need to try again with them.

The garden at the end of November

The garden is starting to settle down after the unusual heat of the last summer and then the copious amounts of rain over the last month or so.  The Fatsia japonica is in flower again - seemingly too late for insects and probably going to be frosted soon too.

Camellia SasanquaYoimachi is in flower too. It is supposed to flower from now onwards, but last year it didn't flower until Spring.  It has such delicate colours in the flowers and provides a splash of brightness at the rather dark bottom of the garden.

The buds are beautiful too.

Salvia microphylla Cerro Potosi has been an absolute star this year, with its small bright fuchsia flowers. It started to flower in July and has continued until now.  I have two plants in pots and they are a little straggly, but I don't mind that when they are such good flowerers.  I am debating whether I can squeeze one into the border...  They are hardy down to about minus 10 degrees C, so I am hoping they will survive the winter.

It is always nice to welcome a drop of sunshine into the garden at the approaching darkest time of year, in the form of winter flowering jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum.  Another straggly looking shrub in habit but I love it nonetheless.  (Note to self - if I occasionally pruned it, it might look less straggly!)  

Bulbs are starting to be seen and the winter flowering honeysuckle is already putting out buds, which is a little unusual, but I think that is down to the weather patterns this year.

Happy New Year 2022

Jasminium Nudiflorum flowering in a photo I took this morning

Happy New Year!  Let us all hope that 2022 is a kinder year than the last two. As I usually do, I have aims during the year which I look back on at New Year. 

Read interesting books:  This has certainly continued and I have read lots of old favourites as well as some new ones.  Some which I particularly enjoyed were: Wintering by Katherine May, One Moment by Linda Green, The Beauty of Broken Things by Victoria Connelly, and The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H G Parry.  I also revisited my favourite Miss Marple stories and Jane Austen novels (of course!)

One of the pages from my Care December journal

Be Creative (using what I have):  this is also a big tick - my  mixed media art journalling course (Wanderlust 2021), the ICAD in June and July, making cards for all occasions, a swatch book, junk journal, Care December journal.  I have used lots of what I have but I have also purchased more things, so this is something I need to keep control of more effectively this year.  (However, if energy prices soar as they are predicted to do, I won't have much money to spend on my hobbies anyway!) I have sewing projects which I would like to complete too, so they are also on the 'to do' list.  My new Wanderlust 2022 course starts next week, so I am looking forward to that.

Get rid of (or donate) things I no longer want or need: I have talked about this for a long time without really addressing it.  Having watched several TV programmes about sorting your life out, I have finally realised that this won't happen magically and that I need to get stuck in and make those decisions myself.  I made a start before Christmas by donating some of my books but this needs to continue.  Once the books are done, there are many, many more possessions which need to be assessed.  However, I feel encouraged that I have finally made a  proper start.

Another Care December journal page

Take more notice of nature: Being at home more has made me appreciate my little garden so much. I am grateful for this space outside and I need to rearrange some pots of hydrangeas which have outgrown their space.  I may have one more rose in mind ('Emily Bronte') but no more large things.  I am planning to grow verbena bonariensis in pots and some cerinthe.  I need to do some re-potting and dividing, so have lots to keep me busy. Oh, and the compost bin wants turning too.  However, amongst all this, I plan to look more, to sit and appreciate more.

I need to remember to be present in the moment and crafting and gardening do help with that.   Also, I need to be grateful for what I have.  Good things to remember in the coming year.  

December in the garden

So far, December has been pretty wet, mild and dull, although we have had a few sunny days.  One of these was yesterday, so I headed into the garden with my camera.  Above is a new winter flowering hellebore called Winter Princess 'Victoria'.   I found her at B&Q - a DIY store - and was intrigued that the label said she would flower through December.  I have several hellebores in the garden, but these are all late Winter/early Spring flowerers.  I can report that she has been in flower since we bought her, in November, I think.

This nemesia 'Confetti' is also still going and this was one of the cuttings I took in the summer, which were my first ever successful cuttings.  

Irises in pots and snowdrops are starting to grow.

Camellia buds are plumping up.

A self-seeded primula is flowering on the patio.  I haven't had any coloured primulas for years so am not sure where this one has come from.  Perhaps it has just been waiting for the right time.

One of my autumn fruiting raspberries is still fruiting too and I ate a raspberry as I wandered round the garden. It still tasted fine.

My small winter flowering jasmine is flowering, but that is more to be expected at this time of year.  It is still a young plant, but is brightening up this part of the border.

Camellia Yoimachi has flowered once this winter, but there are more buds.

This is hydrangeas 'The Bride' which has one flower still looking good.

Snowdrops in a tub.

Camassia starting to grow - I think this is much too early, but they have been enjoying the rain.

Snowdrops in the border.

Another hydrangea, giving really good value for money is Coco - lovely white flowers in summer and then a range of colours as the flowers fade.

More Coco...

...and again.

Winter flowering honeysuckle is in flower and on a sunny day, the scent is lily of the valley.  Again, this is flowering quite early for me - it is usually in January or February.

Small, insignificant flowers, but the scent is wonderful!

To finish, here is a flower from the new hellebore - Victoria.  She is giving me a lot of pleasure, as are all the featured plants.