LATE JANUARY IN THE GARDEN

It has been a challenge to find something different in the garden this week.  Temperatures have been quite low, and we had some more snow, so most of the plants have just stood still.  The snowdrops are still just beginning to flower and so are the oriental Hellebores.    Rain yesterday  left muddy splashes on the Lent Hellebores, so they weren't fit to be photographed either.  But luckily (or not!) I have still been able to find six garden things to share with you this week.

1. Cyclamen hederifolium 

One of the stunning sites which met us on our visit to Anglesey Abbey last September, was this carpet of Cyclamen hederifolium under the trees.  

Which has led to the purchase of more than a few (I'm not confessing how many to anyone!) cyclamen corms, which I'm hoping will establish themselves in the woodland garden here. Now I just need to work out which way up to plant them...

2. Water barrels

We had a fair old down pour a couple of days ago, and the water barrels are full to the brim.   I'm hoping for some more clement weather this week.   It's being stuck indoors looking at nurserymen's catalogues that leads to over ambitious purchases (see above).

3. Rose labels

As I've pruned the roses this year, I've also labelled them.  The more I've planted, the more difficult I've found it to remember which is which.  You write on these labels with pencil which becomes permanent after a time.

4. Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis

This is the dwarf version of Sarcococca, planted next to a path, so that I would get a waft of the beautiful fragrance as I walked by.  I hope it proves not to be too dwarf, as the wafting is probably only getting to knee level at present, and its not too pleasant bending down to have a sniff, what with all the mud there is around.

5. Beautiful branches

Devoid of leaves the bare branches twist and turn into wonderful forms.  This acer has lovely spreading branches.  Mr B loves to look at the trees bare branches too.  But he is eyeing up which ones can be judiciously pruned with his chain saw.  Not this tree though

6. CK Legend edging shears

I do like to include a post about my favourite garden tools now and then.  I have a lot of lawn to edge and in the more formal areas of the garden I want a neater finish than I can achieve with a strimmer.  I need edging shears that can tackle thick overgrown grass easily, for when it's all got a bit, well, overgrown, and these do the job very well.  They claim never to need sharpening, and so far so good in that respect.  They are quite heavy, but solidly made.

That's all from my garden this week.  I'm hoping the plants will be springing into action soon.  The birds are telling us that Winter is nearly over - they've started singing.  

As always, thanks to the The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday, filled with interesting gardens from around the world.