Winter blooms and stems decorate the house

I knew that it would be unlikely that I would get a large bouquet of my favourite red Amaryllis this year, because I did not ask, mindful of the expense. Usually I would request a festive red and white bouquet for Christmas, preferably three or five deep wine red, velvety opulent Amaryllis, combined with some cream roses and some dark evergreen foliage. Instead I delved into my garden, which is full of unseasonably late flowers, due to the mild weather.

I still had several tall and eye-catching red Pineapple Sage , which I chopped off and brought indoors knowing that a further frost would surely kill them. I was amazed that they had survived the frost of a few nights before, which had been quite a Jack Frost nip. The Winter Sweet, chimonanthus praecox, is covered in its pale yellow stars of heavenly hyacinth-scented lovliness, so a stem of that was added to the collection. Next, a couple of pink-stemmed Cornus, then some variegated Ivy , with dark berries, followed by a generous sprig of Myrtle which is covered in tiny snow-ball flower buds. I could have taken the last geranium "Rozanne" flower, a single bright blue disc down low, but did not have the heart to deprive the late bees of such a treat. The finale was a a stem of bright magenta Bouganvillea..a bit of a cheat as it is in my conservatory, but it looks amazingly luscious combined with the reds and provides a gorgeous focal point to the bouquet.

Looking at this vase full of home-grown treasures, and smelling the mixture of herby/spicy scents, fills me with a gladness that is much more satisfying than the florist-bought flowers. I grew these, in my garden..and the late-flying insects can still benefit from the generous blooms outside, until Jack Frost comes a-nipping again.

Hello Spring ..

After a very cold and snowy winter and plenty of grey, bleak, January days, February has arrived with some warmth and sunshine. Yesterday I noticed a clump of crocus tomasinianus in bloom in the garden and a solitary snowdrop. My Hellebores are flowering in the back garden ..one palest yellow and the other is white flushed with pink. The ones in the front garden have yet to reward me and I am wondering whether they need to be moved to the back?

My other winter wonders are all in full glory..lonicera purpusii, cornus" Midwinter Beauty" and the wonderful red stems of Acer "Senkaki" by the front door to offer a warm welcome home. My Winter Sweet was glorious about 2 weeks ago but the flowers are mostly gone now. While they lasted, a fabulous hyacinth-scent greeted me every time I went to fill the bird feeders (almost every day!). Now I have the Daphnes to look forward to..the buds are about to break and the first may even be out now but I have not been to check yet, today being wild and windy..although warm (10 degrees C at 7am).

As usual, when I have time to write a blog, I have a cold, hence not outside! I wanted to take a load of stuff to the dump today, but when I got dressed I immediately realised that I did not have quite the enthusiasm for the job that I felt whilst still in bed. Typical. Earlier on this week, before being struck with a sore throat, I hard-pruned the vitex agnus-castus in the front garden. It has become a rather unruly beast and is also going rotten in one of the main stems. It completely overshadows the poor Rose, Charles de Mills, which, in consequence, has suffered badly from mildew in the past few years. As this variety of rose only flowers once a year, I feel that the time has come to dig it up and do something different. Anyhow, the heap of prunings is still by the front wall and needs to get DUMPED.

A couple of days ago I realised that I still had some bulbs left un-planted, in the cupboard! I hurriedly whizzed off to Long Acres and bought compost (peat-free, of course) and was also tempted by some gorgeous ruffled primroses in reddish orange shades and palest yellow (aka primrose!) plus a couple of those wonderful multi-flora Hyacinths. No trip to a garden centre without temptation winning. So, now I have some pots with late-planted tulips and lilies. Wonder if they will manage to flower this year?

On the weekend the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch took place. I could not devote a solid hour to watching the wee tweeties so just had a few minutes throughout sunday and monday, which I think totalled an hour. I was sad that the Song Thrush, which has been singing his heart out every morning, did not appear (and I have not heard him since..so hope nothing awful has befallen the beloved bard) however, several Siskins arrived and have been on the nyger seed for the last few days. So smart in their green/yellow/black combo. The usual Blackbirds, Doves, Wood Pigeons, Tits (but no Long-Tailed or Coal, which is odd, as they are usually about) Goldfinches and Jackdaws. I have decided that I should like to try and keep a log of the bird visitors. There have been several Redwings this year (January) eating the cotoneaster berries and I have a pair of Black Caps, but not seen them recently either. The Dunnock has a mate and the pair are flying about excitedly and there are two pairs of Magpies squabbling over a nest site. Valentine's Day soon..and the birds are already heavily into mating. Which reminds me, I need to venture out with a step ladder and refill the peanuts..

Au revoir