Six on Saturday: a welcome surprise

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.

In a vase on Monday: in minature

Tags

Helleborus orientalis 'Harvington Hybrids', in a vase on Monday, January, Lonicera fragrantissima, miniature vase, primroses, Primula vulgaris, Viburnum bodnantense New Dawn, winter honeysuckle

It is cold and bright here and these precious blooms are out in my garden today.

A double Hellebore, primrose and Viburnum.

So pretty and so tiny. In my tiniest “vase” which is 5cm x 4cm stamped 80 underneath, it was purchased in a junk shop. Perhaps it was for mustard? Anyway it is white and perfect to hold these minuscule offerings.

Sat on my kitchen window cill I hope the warmth of the house will encourage the viburnum and winter honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima to open a little for me to enjoy the sweet honeyed scent.

What do you mean you cannot see the honeysuckle, it’s there, behind the Hellebore.

I have a few snowdrops in the garden but they are so new, so precious, I couldn’t bring myself to pick them. I hope you will now take a look at our host Cathy to see what else is flowering in deepest January.

Have a good week. D.