My Little Garden 4th Jan 2025
After all the fun, expense, and hard work of the last couple of weeks, here we are in 2025. The Christmas decorations have been packed away, and new year resolutions have been made but not yet broken. What will the year have in store, I wonder. A bit of travel, lots of gardening, and a big birthday. I say big because this year, I will be getting the ‘State Pension’ in addition to my various other private pensions from my 30 years in the insurance industry. A big bonus (apparently) is that I get to travel on buses and trams for free. I can’t remember the last time I caught a bus, but the tram part is excellent because it is the easiest and quickest way to get into the city of Manchester.
In addition to gadding about on public transport, I’m looking forward to spending more time in my own garden rather than other people’s, although I will still be dabbling (or is it meddling) in a few.
Despite the weather extremes of the last week (torrential rain causing severe local flooding, followed by a sharp frost), there is a lot of promise in the garden. Shoots are popping up everywhere, and I am regularly inspecting for progress. Anyway, here are my six choices for this week.
- Witch-hazel
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ is in full bloom now. Here it is with a bit of frosty sparkle.
2. Snowdrops
I can’t say I’m happy to see a snail sheltering in the middle of the clump.
3. Catkins
These Garrya tassels are at their best right now.
4. Frosty heuchera
It had been looking a bit tatty in the last few weeks, so the frost on Thursday improved it immensely.
5. Picea glauca
And the frost also added some post festive season sparkle to our outdoor Christmas tree.
6. Last but not least
A single Crocus sieberi ‘Firefly’ popped up this week. Presumably the same one that appeared early last year. A hopeful sign of things to come.
Thank you for reading, and have a great weekend.
