We have had weather and a half this month: there has been sun, rain, frost, a skittering of snow and rain and wind and rain and, oh I know: rain. The garden is wet.
it was raining when I started to write this but now as I press the send button the sky is sunny and there is frost on the ground. I was looking through my photos and this was taken only a week ago when the garden was similarly bright and a bit frosty. This is always one of my favourite views of the garden as I can see it as a whole (not a hole, I like it far too much for that). I like that in the winter the bones of the garden start to appear. The structure that gets blurred delightfully by the planting starts to be revealed and I start to get excited about the possibilities of the forthcoming new year.
Before the weather turned very horrid there has been more change. The self sown sycamore that used to be in between the sheds has been removed. This is a relief. As it was self sown it was not planned, I did not want a tree there and it grew so tall so quickly it was a worry. I have planted many trees in my garden so I am not feeling guilty about this; except the fact that I feel the need to explain probably means that I do. Anyhoo, I am glad it is done and now I can really start to focus on this space. I deliberately did not have the concrete shed footings and paving stones removed and I am planning on some sort of shed being put here. Maybe a potting shed, maybe not. I am thinking on this. I have other plans as well which I think will be what will happen. Time will tell as they say.....
I have also had the Bramley tree pruned at last. It will need a further reduction in a year or so but it is looking so much better again now and I am sure my neighbours are glad to have some light back and less overhang on their side. Tim likes the change too.
The front side lawn is recovering well now from being the main through-fare for the digger. The reseeded bits and the turf rolls recovered from the skip are starting to look like they might be friends after all.
Delight of delights though is the emergence of these snowdrops. These are real survivors as they were the only existing bulbs in the garden when I moved in and they are right by the new gate, just by where Tim is sitting on the picture above. I hoped they might survive the fence and gate creation, but that they actually have is amazing.
and this rose has sprung up where Ballerina used to be. I expect this to be from the rootstock so probably not Ballerina, but time will tell and I look forward to the promise of flowers next year. My rose order arrived the other day and I have planted a new Ballerina into the front garden and as you would expect I was always planning to site it elsewhere as I wanted to avoid rose sickness.
The main front lawn is looking wonderfully lush. It could probably do with a mow but it is far too wet for that and I am in no hurry to do so. I have decided the barrier will stay up until the Spring and I am considering putting stepping stones across the lawn to try and manage where people walk. This is not a firm plan yet, but it feels quite attractive.
The back garden is sodden. It had not long stopped raining when I took this photo and the ground oozed water up on every step.
The Smell Me and Dye Garden looks like Storm Bert has trampled through it, and indeed he did. The nasturtiums are finished now by the frost so when it has dried out a little there will be some gentle tidying.
The yellow table and chairs would like their winter clean and bringing indoors moment. I must do this as I like them too much to let them get winter damage. They fold up rather neatly so it is not a problem to find space for them indoors.
In the Spring Border one of the mannequin pieces I picked up a couple of weeks ago is now in situ with a string of fairy lights to make him feel sparkly. He does not really have a name yet and he really should have one. At first he was Gary New-Man, today he's 'poor Tom's a'cold'. I love that one of the hellebores is trying to cover his modesty with an appropriate leaf. But really maybe his name is Ken, as he has the same anatomy.....
The Tree Ferns have had their crowns packed in time before the frost and snow arrived.
and the Amicia zygomeris is weeping a little from the cold.
Buds are starting to form on this Camellia Donation that I put in the Conservatory Border earlier this year. This is exciting, whilst she was in flower when I planted her I did not expect too much from her in her first year in the garden. Of course she has not flowered yet so I will not count my buds too quickly.
Camellia Dr King, who was the victim of a squirrel attack last year, is looking healthy enough. I cannot see definite flower buds yet and I will be anxious if he does develop some; but time will tell. He looks happy and that is enough for me at the moment.
The winter flowering cherry is flowering and this feels a little early; usually it is December before I see blossom.
Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' is budding up nicely,
as is the Edgeworthia Chrysantha.
I pause on my wanderings to enjoy this view of the garden across the Dancing Lawn towards Trev's chair.
Several of the cyclamen coum are starting to flower, which does feel early.
and I might have squeaked in excitement at the first snowdrop to emerge. Last year this one emerged early so maybe it is not early but at its usual time.
The pond, quel surprise, is full. This is good, if it was not full it would mean it had a serious leak. It is also choked up with plants but that is rescueable, that will happen.
I wonder what December will bring to the garden.....
Take care and be kind.