End of Month Review - January 2013

I am now in the habit of looking at last year's End of Month Review for the appropriate month before starting writing this year's.  Last year I commented that January was snowless, well not so this year.  We have had snow.
It was a couple of days of heavy snow coupled with freezing temperatures that meant that the garden was covered for about eleven days.  For eleven days it was like my garden didn't exist as I usually know it.  It was a new garden, a different garden, a Moomintroll Midwinter garden.  I liked it for what it was, yet mourned for what it had been.

Then the thaw began:
It began to reappear - what a relief!  The front garden continues to please, I liked it under snow and uncovered from snow.
The garden went from being two-tone to having some colour overnight.
As the snow thawed it uncovered the sodden wasteland of a mess of the borders underneath.  Patches of green dotting around in what is best described as very cold mud.
The olive tree seems to have got through it all ok.
The woodland border also seems to be fairly happy.
Rays of hope appear, this hellebore was planted in the wild garden three or four years ago, this year it has finally flowered and very welcome it is too.
Hellebores also spread hope in the Spring border.
The veg borders are really sodden too, but the minute the snow clears it can be seen that the green manure is still green and I expect still manure too.
I am a self-confessed disliker of evergreens in general, but in specific cases I make allowances.  This Magnolia Fairy Blush planted last year is rather pleasing.  It will be even more pleasing if it flowers this year.
The first snowdrop has flowered, this must be three weeks later than last year's first snow drop, but I think last year's was particularly early.
I'm liking the grasses still adding shape and colour to the pond border.
The prairie border grasses were looking great in today's sunny and breezy weather.
I end as ever with my pond, my beautiful, much loved pond.  It went from snow-bound to snow-free in three days.  It remains very full as it has done for nearly a year now.  I wonder what this year will bring for it?

Thanks as ever to Helen for hosting this meme.

Comments

  1. I always think January is a funny time of year - gardeners sit there champing at the bit to get going, but it isn't quite time to do so and everything just looks muddy. Hard to believe that eight weeks or so from now things will start to go boing and green up. Feels ages away at the moment.

    As for your snow drops, I'm jealous. Still waiting for mine - first signs of buds just appearing, but nothing out as yet other than my lovely viburnum bodanentse Dawn and witch hazel. Even my hellebores are still hiding.

    LOVE your pond!

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    1. Thanks- I love my pond too, I bless the day it was dug out and filled.

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  2. I love your pond Alison, such a tranquil feature to look at. So many signs of spring in your garden, not long now till the proper one!

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    1. Not wishing to wish my life away, but I am looking forward to Spring :)

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  3. Love the hellebore in the wold garden - what is it?

    An interesting month - we often assume there's nothing happening in our gardens in January, but that's completely wrong...

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    1. Sadly I don't know which hellebore it is, I think it was a transplanted seedling so it is a hybrid of some sort.

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  4. I love gardens under snow, although I don't see mine under snow much, either. Your pond is wonderful. And I enjoyed seeing the blooms you have. It will be just as interesting to see what February brings!

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  5. The water in your pond is so clear it looks wonderful. I am pleased that you still like your front garden, I think it looks great snow or no snow.

    Thanks for joining in again this month.

    Helen

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    1. thanks - previously I have only liked my front garden when covered by snow, so it is a nice change - though I can see weeds coming up in the gravel now.....

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  6. Hello Alison, your front garden looks fun and your pond so inviting - I am quite envious of its size and the fact that it is complete as mine is still a work in progress. Looking forward to seeing your pond change as the months go by :-)

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    1. Hello Shirley I would not go so far as to call my garden complete, it is still work in progress too, I think I live in fear of the day that I might think it complete. I have plans for another new border in the hatching!

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  7. Have noticed others are talking of snowdrops but I haven't seen any yet.

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    1. They seem late to me this year, I think last winter was milder for longer though we had snow in February last year.

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  8. I'm another in love with your pond. The fact that your front garden looks great with or without snow is proof of good structure. Love the grasses in your Prairie border.

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