Snow

The first snow of the season fell yesterday morning. Only a light scattering but temperatures have been freezing or below so it is still lying.

The view from my kitchen door.

 The snow has made some colours and shapes really stand out.

Rosa glauca hips

The hips of Rosa glauca appear from August. The birds don't eat them so they last a long time. This rose is one of my favourite plants.

Stipa tenuissima

I love the pale colour of Stipa tenuissima in winter and in particular against snow.

Lonicera nitida

I have several small leaved evergreen plants including Escallonias and loniceras. They add a touch of green in winter and look very pretty covered in frost and snow.

Achillea 'Apple Blossom' growing through Stipa tenuissima in summer.....

......and in winter.

I have always preferred plants that earn their keep in the garden.This Achillea growing through Stipa looks good in summer and winter.

November flowers

Jasminum nudiflorum, also known as Winter Jasmine. This is such a cheerful plant, especially on a dark day. I planted it so that I can see it from the kitchen window.

Viburnum fragrans. This shrub has pink scented flowers on bare stems. The scent is lovely on a mild day.

The next two perennials were given to me so I don't know the varieties. They are both Schizostylis.

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Garden Birds

I am pleased my garden  birds are back. At least I thought they were 'my' birds but it appears from last weeks episode of  'Autumnwatch' that they are probably new birds who have migrated from other climes. Either way I am glad they are here.

Young Greenfinch

This young Greenfinch appeared in our garden a couple of weeks ago. He (or she) was solitary and spent most of the time on the bird table, either eating or just sitting quietly ignoring the other birds who visited the table. We haven't seen him this week so we presume he has found the rest of his family.

Great Tit

I bought this birdbath with me when we moved here over 14 years ago. It cost very little and the birds love it. I did buy them a decorative one which cost quite a lot of money but they wouldn't go near it. It has since succumbed to frost.

Blackbird

I love having Blackbirds in the garden. They are quite at this time of year but in the Spring their song is so beautiful. They love rummaging for worms but also they also like the berries from the Rowan and Cotoneaster. They do visit the birdtable occasionally especially if I have put out apple or fruitcake crumbs.

All of the photographs were taken by my partner with his new camera. It has a longer lens than mine so better for bird photography. They were all taken through windows. We keep the cameras handy so that we can make the most of any opportunity.

Autumn

After the frost I mentioned in my last blog, the temperatures have increased. It has been much milder than it should be at this time of year. There hasn't been much wind so the colours of autumn are lasting well.

Acer Palmatum 'Suminagashi'

Acer Palmatum 'Suminagashi'

The view from my kitchen window.

The summer cutting garden is now over. I will be using twigs, cones and seedheads until spring. I made this hoop made from the stems of  Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'.

Stems from Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'