THIS WEEK IN MY GARDEN - 10 JANUARY

We were forecast heavy snow, but only got a light dusting.  We weren't forecast heavy rain, but we got that.  We also had sub-zero temperatures during the day.  The combination of the wet and the cold has unfortunately kept me out of the garden all week.  This week's blog will therefore be short and sweet.

It looks pretty and is delightfully crunchy underfoot, but the rose pruning will have to wait a while longer.

It's been slim pickings on the flower front.  One tentative snowdrop in bud and a few unfurling Winter Aconites are all that is new this week.  Thankfully evergreens can be relied upon this time of year. They give shape and structure whether neatly clipped like the box in the Rose Garden, or left au naturel.  These are a few of my favourites.

From the low mound of Skimmia Japonica with its dark red buds.

 and Variegated Portuguese Laurel with its leaves held on lovely red stems

and Helleborus foetidus.  I've never noticed whether it lives up to its name of Stinking Hellebore, but I can't say I've ever knelt down to give it a sniff.  

While I have spent the week indoors, the woodsman has been at work with chainsaw and axe to chop a fallen tree into logs for the fire.  The last remnants are left to be cleared away.

So with a final frosty photo (of Hylotelephium) I bit you adieu until next week.