Tags
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora, frost, Hornbeam hedges, January, Lonicera fragrantissima, Miscanthus sinensis, six on saturday, Viburnum bodnantense dawn, Viola odorata, white Foxgloves, Winter garden
The surprise is the weather of course. Sunshine and frost this morning, such a welcome sight after what seems like months of rain and grey skies and general bleh. My garden is holding water in small padding pools. I am trying hard, not allowing myself to stress about what the saturated clay is doing to my plants but horror stories keep popping in to my mind.
Not today. No, today I treated myself to some primulas to brighten a few bare patches. I walked around the garden, keeping off the squelching lawns, off the borders, stretching this way and that to reach closer to the sources of scent.
These are my Six:
Viburnum bodnantense Dawn
A quite vigorous, woody shrub, which sprouts out beautiful pink flowers in midwinter. Tiny multiples of flowers pump out a sweet scent in the sunshine. 
This is one shrub I would always want in a garden.
Foxglove foliage dusted with frost.
I am hoping these will flower this year and will give me white spires. Digitalis purpurea f.albiflora
Foxgloves are such accommodating plants, suited to deep shade and to sun. They really will grow on any type of soil. I prefer the white form for its crisp contrast between white and green, finding the pink version a rather dirty pink. Highly poisonous if ingested, otherwise I would recommend them everywhere and anywhere.
Handsome Hornbeam
Hedges of Hornbeam are another of my favourite sights. Midwinter and the hedges are still retaining their foliage. Curled and pleated and a rich brown colour. The hedge provides shelter to garden birds. 
Sunlight and Miscanthus 
Backlit, I am reminded why I love Miscanthus sinensis so much. This particular one was new this autumn and is currently in a pot. I shall be transferring it into the ground once things dry out a bit.
More winter scent
This is winter Honeysuckle Lonicera Fragrantissima. Another woody shrub which bursts into flower in winter. The scent wafts on the air pulling the passerby in close. It too does not seem to be put off by the wet soil.
White flowers
These Violas are eye catching even in the low light levels of winter. They also are scented but you need to get very close to detect their aroma. Such sweet flowers, great performers and worth a couple of quid of anyone’s money. Winter bedding.
These are my six, joining The Propagator and gardeners from around the globe, sharing my six favourites in my garden right now. Do join in, we would love to see what’s in your garden too.
Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
Nice post some really lovely pictures. Virbium flowers never fail to deliver. Only wish I had room to have one in my garden.
Thankyou! They ( viburnum) do like a bit of room as pruning tends to mean less flowers. You have lots of other beauties
I was thinking of you when I wrote my S on S 😐🌨 and I can see why you were especially grateful for yesterday’s sun – hopefully repeated today. We had frost too, but it must have been light as it dd not create any photo opportunities – good to see your foxgloves with their dusting and I am glad you have had the opportunity to experience the fragrance of your lonicera and viburnum
Hoping to have a vase for you tomorrow. I have just read your Six. Thank you Cathy! What date are you open in Feb?
You are welcome, Dorris – and it is 4 weeks today (Sun), Feb 16th
I love your winter pictures. What a difference a crisp sunny day makes.
Thankyou Chloris. It has been so nice to see the sunshine
What a colour contrast between the viburnum & hornbeam. Two such different colours & yet equally beautiful. Wish I could smell your shrubs!
Thanks Lora
The scent is heady in the sunshine, if we could invent sniffpress that would be cool!
I am sorry I missed these two and a half weeks ago. I had to skip ahead to February 5 because I was so far behind.
Anyway, hornbeam is intriguing because no one grows it here, and certainly not as a hedge. There are a few grown as street trees in a nearby town. I don’t know where they came from. I have not seen any new ones since then.
Perhaps you could lead the way. They are one of my favourite trees as I love the pleated foliage. Thanks for catching up.
I have never been a trend setter, although I did inadvertently make a scene with North American maples years ago . . . and got people using the native blue elderberries. There are so many plants that should be more popular her than they are. Most fads and trends make no sense. I need not partake in something that makes no sense.
Fashion and trends are always borne from someone or somewhere. Some of our native trees are under attack and are no longer chosen. The change in climate is also allowing us to choose from a different range of trees that previously could not have been grown. And yes we do not have to plant things that make no sense!