The Big Freeze

Birds are eating the hips.......I love the shapes they leave behind, small pieces of artwork.......

Snow has turned to ice.......... I am getting tired of white.....I prefer green ....I wish I had green......

The robin prefers green........he does not like white either......
The pied wagtail looks for green.....it is nowhere to be seen.......

More snow is expected this weekend with strong north easterly winds.......

The fairy is not happy......neither am I.........

The hunter.......

She watches, eyes fixed.....she is patient. I stand, fixed to the spot. Nella has seen a rat.

At great speed she runs across the garden..........the rat is too far away for her....it runs into next doors garden.

She peers through the hedgerow.....just stay away, you are not welcome here.......

She checks the garden, just to make sure the rat did not come with friends......

At the end of a chase Nella always dances around the garden. She bounces this way and that, the excitement still very much with her. I have a feeling the rat will not be back for a while.........

Roses and romance......

My favourite gardening magazine is 'The English Garden'. It speaks of everything I love. During the last year it has inspired me to think differently about my garden. I am by nature a romantic, I intend to carry that forward into the space that surrounds me. I have the perfect soil for roses. Sadly I have never been able to keep them....the reason....rabbits. They seem to have a taste for them.

BUT I will not be defeated. Today I ordered two ramblers.

Rambling Rector......large clusters of scented semi-double, creamy white blooms from July thru September, followed by small hips. A vigorous rambler ideal for covering an unsightly structure. Excellent for shady areas. I intend to plant this at the back of the garden. Hopefully, in time, it will cover some of the awful fence the railway company put there.

Francis E Lester. This beautiful rose bears large trusses of single white blooms with subtle pink edging. With it's strong fragrance it is a welcome sign of spring. Long flexible canes can easily be trained over arches etc. I plan to put this rose along the fence in front of the copse.

I am going to make/buy a willow structure to put around the roses to try and deter the rabbits. Then I shall keep my fingers crossed.

I am also planning a new border. The planting will be simple but beautiful. I intend to fill it with Queen Anne's Lace, Valerian and Angelica. Dotted amongst these lovely white blooms will be purple loosestrife.

The borders around the pond will be extended and will be full of native meadow flowers and grasses.

I am going out tomorrow to see a local plantsman to order some of the above. I must say I am eager. I realise I have much more to give this space and the prospect of spring is just so exciting.

I always value your comments and ideas. As I take this journey, your imput would be so gratefully received. Any suggestions are welcome........

Starlings, hellebores and composting........

I noticed the starlings as I walked into the garden. The sun's rays had settled on their feathers. They are really stunning birds but how many times do we pass them by. 'It's only a starling.' Personally, I like them. They are noisy, messy and the bully boys of the bird world, but I would miss them if they did not visit my gardens. They are wonderful entertainers, and it is oh so sweet when they chatter quietly to each other. The little birds above were doing just that. Like an old married couple they talked for around ten minutes, I found if quite enchanting. It is good to just stop in your tracks and take in a moment.

Some of the hellebores are in bloom.....but many have yet to appear.

I could see buds hiding amongst the icy snow.......and it was at this point I realised, I have not removed the old leaves on the plants. I always feel a little uneasy when I do this....as though if I remove all the large leaves, the whole plant will disappear. Don't ask me why I feel this way because I truly do not know.

Half an hour later the job was done, and I know the plants will be better for it.

They did not show any signs of black spot. When the blooms appear they will not be hidden by the large leaves.

Do not put hellebore leaves in your composter, they will not break down. Have I ever told you I am very good at making garden compost. I have nine compost bins.....yes nine, and I love each and every one of them. It never ceases to amaze me that I can throw all my kitchen veg and fruit waste.....garden shreddings.......dead annuals, shredded paper etc in and six months later I have rich, sweet smelling soil. It is the best thing you can give your garden plants. Rich in nutrients, wonderful to lighten clay soils.....and I love to give back to nature, that, which she so kindly shared with me. Oh also forget to mention, the rabbits also make a useful donation....their droppings are a wonderful source of nitrogen, so that goes in to!!

It has been cold today and more snow is expected tomorrow. There is talk of the coldest winter for thirty years........

Hope you all have a good week and stay warm.......

Sunday safari.......

The bullfinch is one of Britain's prettiest birds. The male, with his beautiful deep red breast, is unmistakeable. He is there, amongst the oak branches. Honest. Perhaps if you enlarge the photograph, you will be able to fully appreciate, just how pretty this little bird is.The old oak was in fact full of birds.....greater spotted woodpecker......

and female blackbird, were way up high. Too far away to get a decent photograph.

Watching a squirrel making a nest in an old owl box, was fascinating. She busied herself, for around an hour. Up and down the oak with leaves, straw and any other useful bedding material that she could find.

Daffs are peeping through the soil....a sure sign that spring is not too far away. It does lift my spirit to see plants moving. I walk the garden everyday, regardless of the weather. I have a need to be part of it, as it makes it's journey towards each season.

Regardless of the snow flurries and constant chill....I have found the motivation to work outside. I have been tying living bamboo together to form an arch. I thought it would give a pleasing walk to the greenhouse.

January and February are always the worst months for rabbit damage. Many plants have been taken to the ground. My beautiful specimen Fatsia has been eaten to within an inch of it's life, only three leaves remain. It should regenerate but I do not know if I really want to keep it. I am seriously considering removing many plants this year. A garden needs to move forward, as do I. I have ideas........

The eucalyptus has had the top four metres of growth removed. The wrong time of year to do this.........had we not done it, the tree would have come down in the strong winds, we had a month ago. The tree is of great sentimental value, as Mr P and I planted it the first spring we arrived. I am sure it will be fine, despite it's early haircut.......

Mum and Dad bought me The Ivington Diaries for Christmas. Monty Don is my favourite gardener. I love his style......his organic ways......and his uncomplicated thinking. He has many wonderful ideas, so I am trying to think how I can use them here........roll on warmer weather, when I can put thoughts into action......

and finally....Gail, I loved your Haiku.......

Winter Solitude

in a world of one colour
the sound of the wind

-Basho.

I shall send The Forgotten Garden to you soonest.


A happy and healthy New Year to you all.

Sunday safari.......well not really, it's too cold.......

My tree is dressed.......I left it late this year. Christmas decorations hold memories for me.

Lots of memories........magical moments......

My Auntie gave me the angels many years ago. They are very beautiful, I never tire of them........

My garden is full of decorations. Mother Nature has been busy........she works her magic far better than I.
There are many feathers in the snow.......

All the teasels have bonnets.......

A mini Christmas tree perhaps?

The robin is my friend. I am feeding him suet sticks. He will not go hungry.

Happy safari Sunday........

Walking in beauty......

Every picture tells a story.....so they say.......

The birds knew the snow would come.....now they can feast on berries........

The garden is hushed.......not a sound.......the birds are not singing......

I think of Riley and Poppi making snowmen.......I hope their Mummy has some carrots. Poppi says all snowmen have carrot noses.......
Snow is not common in my part of the world.

I shall walk Nella during the day.....walking in the snow is fun.......

What a difference.......

The bees and butterflies are sleeping.......

The garden is frosted.

I put a coat over my dressing gown and pop on my gloves. I am glad my neighbours are sleeping.......

The air is crisp......my breath is warm......

Silence greets me.

I watch the birds gather.......the night has been harsh. Water has turned to ice. I leave suet balls, seeds and nuts. The birds are hungry.

The cold chills my bones and yet........ There is something quite magical about a frosted garden. I breathe in the cold air, and savour the moment.

Cold days mean log fires.....old houses are hard to heat. Nella loves the warmth of the fire and dreams of chasing rats. I dream of Spring and what is to come.

Winter months.....time to dream.......