My Little Garden 26th Dec 2020
I can’t claim to have written all this blog on the Friday evening as I normally do, because there may have been a glass of wine or two consumed. Well it was Christmas day after all, even if it was a little bit different to the usual festivities. We had always planned to spend the day with our eldest son, daughter-in-law and the two eldest granddaughters and I’m grateful that the Tier 3 rules allowed this. As it’s only the second time in over 35 years that we haven’t hosted, it was a very pleasant change and I hope it becomes a new tradition. Coming home to a tidy house with the prospect of an evening of TV (thank goodness for iplayer and Netflix though) and a turkey sandwich was just perfect.
Over the last week there have no childcare responsibilities and no work, so whenever the opportunity presented itself (in other words when it stopped raining) I have been out in the garden inspecting for signs of spring. I know that might sound a little bit desperate in December, but there’s plenty going on including lots of weeds enjoying a growth spurt. How dare they!
1. I had two little friends helping me with garden tasks. Mr and Mrs perhaps? Is it possible to tell the difference? They were very friendly but kept popping up at awkward angles for photos.
This is one of them on the pot that contains the clematis that was disentangled rather ruthlessly from the arbour a weeks ago. If I hadn’t been too busy focussing on the robin you would be able to see signs of life on Madame Julia.
And I’ve since looked up how to tell Mr and Mrs Robin apart as well!
2. It is quite likely that hellebores will feature regularly over the next few weeks. This is a very pretty double one that I really don’t remember buying so I can’t tell you it’s name..
Lot of flowers to come too.
3. The mahonia is a joy at this time of year. On a sunny day you can often spot a little buzzy visitor or two. Unfortunately sunny days have been a bit lacking.
4. Most of the geraniums have lost their leaves now but Ann Folkhard is hanging on and looking quite colourful.
5. It’s hard to get a good photo of the viburnum, unless you go for a full macro shot, because there’s always tatty bits (on mine anyway). The scent is delicious though and the leaves, although plain green, are an attractive shape and set other plants off really well in summer.
6. And the most exciting thing to happen this week was the progress of the snowdrops. This is how they looked last Sunday and I would have liked to show you some progress today, but even I went out with the camera yesterday morning, the growth seems to have stalled temporarily. Maybe next week.
And that’s my last Six on Saturday for 2020 and what a year it’s been. I hope you’ve had as a good Christmas as has been possible and that 2021 is going to be so much better for you and your families.
If you want read the rest of the Boxing Day ‘sixes’ take a look at the blog of The Propagator who is the creator of this weekly collection. There are also many more excellent photos and blogs on twitter under the hashtag #SixonSaturday
