2018. Year's End.

2018 has been a year of extremes. We had the "Beast from the East" in February and March which set the garden back for spring which then leapt up to temperatures on some days in the low 20's in April.  

2018 is reportedly the second sunniest since records began in 1929. The top spot remains 2003 with 1587hrs of sunshine. 

It was reported as the hottest summer (in England) since those records began in 1910 and it was indeed a very long hot summer that caused issues in our own garden with drought.  

Christmas has come and gone for another year and I was fortunate enough to receive some gardening vouchers from one of the consultants I work for, my husband's aunt gave me a book on topiary and my younger son gave me some proper topiary shears.

The Man That Can and I spent Saturday morning at the garden centre choosing a couple of new birch trees.

Apparently Betula ermanii Polar Bear is a "strong growing tree which quickly develops a white trunk" and that after a few years and with "a little imagination" starts to resemble a polar bear... 

The other one is the well known Betula utilis var. Grayswood Ghost. It's a more conical shape with one of the best white trunks available. 

On Sunday morning we planted them in the Pink Garden.  When I say we, I actually mean TMTC planted them while I made sure they were in the best position.  I did however spend some time tidying up some old soggy foliage from the day lilies and cleared a few weeds.  

Between the bottom step and the shed he planted the b. Grayswood Ghost as it will be a more compact shape.

B. Polar Bear is planted at the edge of the flower bed where it can spread to help with the privacy and soften the hard line of the fence.

A little more of the detritus left by the fencers was collected before the bird box was put back on the shed.



It was a beautiful day, sunny and mild, and so quiet other than birdsong.  I guess all the neighbours were either inside watching TV or at the sales!  Our gain.

It's been the year of the tree I reckon.  This year we have added another 4 to make a total of 14.  We now have 3 birches in the Pink Garden, an espallier apple tree, Kanzan cherry tree, a large potted acer, a Tibetan cherry and a liquidamber styraciflua Lane Roberts in the Yen, a magnolia George Henry Kern, acer Crimson King, syringa Sensation and a standard Photinia red robin in the Long Border.  Then in the front garden we have another acer and the staghorn tree! Not too shabby eh?

As we say our goodbyes to 2018, I wish each and every one of our readers a very happy and healthy New Year!

Pre-Christmas colour

Winter. It's been particularly mild thus far, but while December is classed as a winter month, it's rarely seen as that bitterly cold snow covered scene on the cards shared at this time of year.

The first 'Christmas Rose' is unfurling along with blue and pink buds of primulas 

Silvery markings on cyclamen above with emerging buds on viburnum. 

Winter jasmine is the only flower in full swing in the garden.  The tiny sweet scented blooms appear for the first time on viburnum bodatense 'dawn'. There are two clusters on the pink winter flowering variety in the pink garden.  Once fully established I'm certain it will fill this space with welcome winter loveliness.

A single pink 'New Dawn' rose clings onto life while it's leaves are passing. 

This lovely rich hue is supplied by Pittosporum tenufolium Tom Thumb above, now it's leaves have all turned shiny purple. Below is a hebe in a very similar vibrancy. 



A new acquisition is a cornus alba 'Baton Rouge' which has a stunning red bark and promises red foliage.  

It was my birthday last month, and with money from my dad and step-mum it took me a while to find this fantastic plant to brighten up this space behind the bird bath.  It's positioned in perfect eyeline from my seat inside the house and creates a lasting reminder of them.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Christmas post

It's just days until Christmas 2014 and not a flake in the air. In fact yesterday it was 12c at 6am! It is however very windy, and wet. A typically normal British winter.

There isn't a great deal happening in the garden. I have yet to work on my winter interest.

Inside there are two temporary additions to my orchid collection. One of the ladies who works on my corridor had a dying specimen. I should really have taken a photo of the plant before I repotted it.  It appeared to have a baby growing halfway up on of the dead looking stems, with a withering leaf, but this new healthy leaf was forming.

I split the two plants and repotted each into fresh orchid compost.  Now we wait...

Among my own orchids, there are a lot of fresh buds forming.

I've repotted a couple

This white flowering orchid had another 6 new stems so it will be some time before it will be able to be repotted.

Whereas these pink ones will soon be over so will be repotted in the New Year.

This beauty is fattening up to flower.  I forget what colour it is.

And this one has gone over.  The next step will be a new leaf.

Since its Christmas, my indoor flowers have a festive theme.

All that remains is for me to curl up with a hot chocolate and a seed catalogue, and wish you all a very merry Christmas and may 2015 be your year!