Helleborus, Coronilla and Christmas!

Christmas is approaching fast and yet the mild weather continues. I havent taken many photos of the garden recently until today! The various heelebores around the garden are starting to show colour now. We have a particular good plant of 'Anna's red' which has to be one of the most popular varieites available to us gardeners.

One plant which i could not be without and features in my 'Plant Portraits' talk is Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Brockhill Blue'. Currently flowering now having strated around the end of October it produces wonderful bright yellow small pea-like flowers which are delicately scented. On a damp mild day the scent can pack a punch and will fill the near vicinity with its allure. I grow it in a pot- it can be killed off in a very hrash winter so a slighty sheltered position is advisable to avoid disappointment later on.

Apart from a few little odd-jobs left to do, the garden is all ready for the spring and doesnt look too bad. There are still a few bits of herbaceous which will have to be cut down such as the Anthemis and phlox but these can wait a while longer as everything is still growing!

We've got the first open day on April 17th so plans will have to be made for spring bedding schemes over the festive period- the ployanthus i planted back in September are flowering well now as are the Bellis. With frequent feeding and deadheading these should continue to improve until they can be replaced with the summer stuff.

I've got quite a few talks lined up for after christmas which i'm looking forward to. I love to go and meet other plants people and garden lovers. Not all of the clubs are gardeners but all seem to appreciate and admire beautiful gardens and plants.