we are moving

The website and blog are moving to a new home. The website address will stay the same but it will look very different and will be much easier for me to maintain ( unlike the previous one). It is in the process of moving to the new host, it should up up and running on Wednesday 3 July 2013

Winter is back

The warm springlike weather of last week didn't last long. We are back to cold days, freezing nights and snow.

First day in the garden

The last day of February was a sunny day, the first for a while. An ideal day to start the spring clean up.

The first job was to tackle the path to the shed and compost bin. Grasses, Knautia macedonia and Corylus had flopped over the path so I had to step over/ duck under while trying not to slip on leaves. Then I had to fight through Lonicera nitida by the shed. Not anymore; I now have a clear path and the heart on the shed is straight.


I am thinking of some big change; possibly removing some shrubs, reshaping the lawn and growing some vegetables. I'm still thinking about it.

Crocus tommasinianus 'Whitewell purple'

The front garden is tiny. I planted it with seedlings and cuttings from the back garden after it was redesigned a few years ago  These are taking now taking over. I've removed some of the Aquilegias and Linaria. I'll remove more later. 

Trees in winter

I like winter trees. Against a blue sky they look like sculptures...

..they look dramatic with the sunshine and a grey sky....

.. they look pretty with raindrops shining like beads...

...and picturesque with snow.

Hellebores

These Helleborus orientalis are the first flowers I've cut from my garden. I like them floating in this mini goldfish bowl.

As you can see through the window behind, we've had a light dusting of snow.

More snow

There has been more snow since I took this photograph on 19 January. It seems we are stuck with it until the weekend when a thaw is expected. 

This is Hydrangea quercifolia. It is one of my favourite shrubs. It has usually lost its leaves by now but the weather has been so mild that they have stayed on. They do contrast nicely with the snow.

Jasminum nudiflorum is very tough. A good plant to have near the house so that it can be admired from the window.

I made this heart from the red stems of Cornus 'Elegantissima' which grows in my garden. It has been on my shed for several months so it has now faded. I will make another in the spring.

Snow

The first snow of the season. Viburnum fragrans. Scented pink flowers on bare stems in winter, I love it.

In place of flowers

Belinda at Wildacre has left her Christmas jug of twigs on display http://t.co/Yyd2IU4e. This has made think about the birch twigs I used to display my hand sewn tiny hearts at craft fairs. I cut them down and put them in a cream metal jug. I like the contrast and it suits the room too.

I also have bottle of grasses collected from the garden in the kitchen.

For a touch of summer this bowl contains dried flowers and leaves from my garden