It has been wet , windy or cold or all three for what feels like weeks on end. The Magic Garden has been relatively unscathed by wind this year beyond all the wind spinners discovering a new horizontal placement. The severe cold has seen off foliage from last year but already fresh green is showing throughout the garden. The daffodils are well on route if not in bud just yet, I have snowdrops out and my wee collection of hellebores are blooming. The rhubarb is looking promising both in the plot and the potted version. Ben ventured out for a few minutes to sit on the bench in the sun while I planted out my treat to myself of a wee white hellebore.
Cold cold week
It is beginning to warm up again and we expect more rain tomorrow after snow earlier this week and sub-zero temperatures. My ventures out into the Magic Garden have been mainly to put fresh water out for the birds and to refill their feeders. I picked some extra crunchy curly kale too - did occur to me that I could stick it straight in the freezer. This week’s excitement was a female blackcap arriving at the mealworms feeder.
Sunday
At last a day of sunshine, only broken by a shower this evening. I did a bit more tidying up and added some violas to the back border and front tubs together with some rather garish primroses. I’ve tried to persuade the cranberry to climb rather than so its more natural ground cover sprawl. It has a berry! The primroses under the rowan tree have mostly not come back. The one that has is suffering from its position.
Saturday
The sun came out briefly today and I got on with some of the maintenance tasks in the Magic Garden including the winter pruning before enjoying the birds at the feeders. It remains bitterly cold and damp. Ben thought birdwatching was fun too but didn’t stay out vey long
Friday
My week of leave is almost over and I have got very little done in the Magic Garden. It is supposed to be dry tomorrow so hopefully I will be able to do some winter pruning. Today I filled the mealworm feeders up again and enjoyed a few moments sitting with a coffee watching Ben and the birds. My first snow drops are now out which is always cheering.
I hope the new dogwoods do as well as the one at the back of the garden.
Thursday
Its still bitterly cold and damp. Today I re-potted the Christmas trees, Norway spruce, into their summer homes. I will be a little surprised if they survive but they weren’t too great an extravagance. I replaced them in the front door pots with red dogwoods and white hellebores. This was done in the dark so photographs tomorrow! Meantime an aerial view of the Magic Garden that I’m using to plan and label for the coming year.
Tuesday
Its still bitterly cold here and we seem unable to get through 24 hours without it raining. I’ve filled up the feeders again and today have put the wildlife cameras back up too. I was pleased to see the longtailed tits back with the bluetits in toe
Monday
Slightly surprisingly it hasn’t rained since the early hours today. It is though bitterly cold. Ben had a happy wander round but even with his fur coat he clearly found it too cold to stay out long.
Sunday
It was cold and wet again. I was delighted though to see siskins in the Magic Garden.
Saturday - Epiphany
Although damp today and cold, both Ben and I spent some time out in the Magic Garden. Today’s main task was to fill the bird feeders again and to plant out 6 Cyclamen Cyberia Rose Silver that I had treated myself to. They are in the winter border at the back now in front of the replanted dog wood and the new Christmas Box plants. The lenten rose is coming on beautifully under the apple tree and the pulmonaria are showing signs of life too.
Thursday
It continues to be wet much of the time. Ben has been out to investigate but even while I was filling the bird feeders he was back in!
Tuesday
I was busy in town this morning so Ben only got a few moments in the Magic Garden this afternoon. It is terribly wet & soggy now. I filled up the feeders again and the mealworms are proving extremely popular. I think there was a flock of siskins today coming through the trees.
New Year's Day
The year started with a beautiful sunny & dry day. The Magic Garden is wet through out. Today I did a tiny amount of tidying up - clearing broken solar lights and removing some rubbish. I also pinned down the micro mesh again over the curly kale & hooked out some slugs.
The hellebores in the north quadrant and under the apple tree at the back are both in bloom but are also both looking scruffy. The first snowdrop is almost ready to come out. Its lovely to still have roses out too! The Christmas Box in the pot group is looking well with berries as well as flowers.
Boxing Day
The wind has gone down for the moment although it is the calm before another storm. Today was cold and bright. I planted out the tulip bulbs and some alliums. I also retrieved the gorse plant before planting the rose that Hedgewatch have given me.I will need to remember to water it while it settles in.
Christmas Day
It was very windy again yesterday and I spent some time trying to get the broom behind the pond to stay in the ground. I have a suspicion that I will be replacing this plant. Today was calmer so Ben and I enjoyed a little birdwatching and just being in the Magic Garden.
Christmas Eve Eve
Its been continually windy here and the Magic Garden is looking a bit unloved.Today I moved the red dogwood further back against the back fence and also planted the Sarcococca ruscifolia Dragon Gate plants I treated myself to for the Solstice. I put some of last year’s leaf mould round them so hopefully they will settle in well. I pruned the dogwood a little to improve its shape.
I picked a Solstice bouquet of olive, bay, holly, teasel, thistles, ivy & a winter rose & added dry allium heads. Ben checked on his catnip at the back before coming charging back in!
Saturday 16th December
I spent quite a long time in the Magic Garden today, doing some essential clearing up and planting some bulbs. Ben and I sat in the sun for a while and enjoyed the sunset.
Sunday 10th December
I had moments in the Magic Garden when it didn’t rain today which I utilised to refill and rearrange the bird feeders. Ben briefly investigated the catnip at the back & marked his territory.
More time passing
We seem to have gone from snow and cold to endless wet and wind with another storm passing through. Meantime Christmas is creeping up on me and so I have put two wee trees outside the front door.
Another Week Gone
Been a bit busy lately! Had planned to plant the bulbs out but the weather had other ideas and this weekend we’ve had snow. I’ve been kept busy filling the bird feeders and keeping the water unfrozen. I was surprised to find the rose is still trying to bloom!
