A Winter's Wash

As mentioned last time, the trees needed a little bit of a wash to remove the green algae.  It does them no harm at all if you're gentle.  

I use tepid water with just a tiny drop of washing up liquid.

Did you know that birch trees' bark peels as the tree grows to help it photosynthesise?  However, don't be tempted to tear off the peeling bark as it can spoil the look of the tree if the bark beneath isn't ripe.

The Tibetan cherry also received a wash and brush up.  The photo below doesn't quite do the colour justice in this winter light. 

Now the fence is painted, the vine eyes and wire are being reattached in preparation for the three rosa New Dawn to be replanted. 

The mirror erected once more...

And the Folly door has been hung.  It doesn't look as effective without the huge hedge and I doubt it will be fooling anyone else in the near future but in time when the trees are in leaf and the arch is clothed in climbers, a glimpse of it will return. 

Wandering around the garden, tiny flashes of colour can be found. Hundreds of bulbs are pushing through the leaf litter and here and there the brighter varieties of polyanthus are opening 

Cornus alba siberica, the red dog wood looks amazing when the sun catches it - but alas no sunshine today.  I'm going to cut this one down in the spring to encourage more stems.

Rhododendron Christmas Cheer is ready to burst open at any moment.

Hellebores on the table among emerging bulbs on the terrace. 

And finally, scent in our garden is almost as important as colour.  While weeding at the other end of the Long Border there was such an intoxicating perfume.  As I moved along the border (we're plagued with hairy bittercress) the fragrance filled my very soul, uplifting me and making me smile.  Sarcococca confusa, the Christmas Box has tiny tiny flowers but boy does it fill the garden with a gorgeous deep heady scent!