No sooner did the year start and then it seemed to have ended. I know that as you get older years seem to pass by faster, but 2025 disappeared in a blink of an eye.
and whilst the year is ending cold and frosty and with snow threatened, the snowdrops are pushing their way up. Some have been flowering for some weeks now, but most are still considering their options and biding their time.
The front side lawn has pronounced fox track leading to the gap in the fence where they can get through. The cats also use this path constantly. Of course the cats might have created the path and the foxes also use it. I think the cats would probably claim ownership.
There are nigella seedlings starting to push through. There are annual weed seedlings too, but let's focus on the nigella for now.
The Daphne Jaqueline Postill in the back garden (one of two) is flowering away and scenting the entrance to the garden. It is a delight.
We have had some deep frosts over the Christmas period and more are due. We need a cold snap to give balance to the garden and at least, once it has thawed, it has been good gardening weather as well. Quite a lot of weeding has been achieved over the last few days and as we all know: one weed removed now is worth 100 in Spring.
The Courtyard Garden looks a bit depleted this time of year as the tenders have moved into the conservatory and greenhouse. Why is it I notice how bad the weeds are in the pots when I am looking at the photos and not when I should have removed them? Sigh.
The frost lingers in the shadows as the sun moves slowly around the house/garden.
But where the sun does reach the colours of the winter garden shine. You can also (hopefully) see I have had the pleached hedge professionally prunted this year. I decided I could not face the ladders and my shonky pruning was making me very unhappy.
They did such a good job and I love seeing how crisp the edges now are. I can also see the contorted willow better that it to one side of the hedge. I kept forgetting to take this photo from upstairs, which is why the sun is setting....
The tree ferns are starting to feel the nip of the cold. Their crowns are stuffed with straw to protect them.
The cyclamen are flowering well at the top of the garden. From a few pots planted every year or so these are now spreading throughout the garden. This is the sort of thing that makes me love my garden so much. I like what I plant but I love the random that the garden takes from it.
A little too random is the Smell me and Dye Garden. The frost does not disguise enough the outbreak of couch grass that is taking over. It is a real problem in this part of the garden and I really must try harder to control and remove it in this coming year. The madder should be matured enough to be used now, so that is rather exciting and timed rather nicely to when I should be having more time to garden.
The little Christmas Tree has now relocated from the front door step to the Side Garden. Usually it returns to the Courtyard Garden, but I decided to try and see how it felt in this position. It should get a bit more light here which I think will do it good.
Did I mention that the sky was really blue when I was taking most of these photos. Not. a. cloud. to be seen. I love crisp bright days like these.
I end, as it traditional, with the pond. There is visible water (hurrah). I wonder how the pond will fare in the new year. Will there be frogspawn? Will I clear out more of the plants to let more surface water be seen?
Time will tell.
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