THIS WEEK IN MY GARDEN - 3 JANUARY

Happy New Year, and welcome back to my garden. January may not be the most propitious time to start, or rather re-start, this blog, as there is less happening in the garden this time of year. Less happening, but not nothing happening, and I’m hoping that some good preparation now will pay off later in the year. More specifically that it will result in a better garden in August when our very first NGS opening takes place. 

What a cold and frosty start to the New Year it has been, and an amber weather warning for later this weekend to look forward to. On the plus side we do get some lovely clear skies and sunshine, and the opportunity to start the rose pruning. I can manage about half an hour before my fingers get too frozen.  10 down and about 100 to go.

The Viburnum davidii and Aucuba japonica drooped dramatically, looking very forlorn.  

The rhododendrons don't seem to be as affected, perhaps it's because of their Himalayan roots?

Where I can, I've moved some tender plants into the unheated greenhouse, where a heated mat and fleece are all I can offer them against the cold.  There are pelargoniums, fuchsias and salvias.  If previous years are to go by, about half the plants will make it through.

The stars of January are the Oriental Hellebores.  The veining on this one is rather attractive, so I'll be getting my watercolours out to paint these.

The only trouble is they do rather hang their heads, hiding the interesting patterning until you lift them up.

One plant that reliably flowers this early in the year is this red pulmonaria.  It doesn't have the lovely spotted leaves of the later flowering ones, but at this time of year, its just nice to have a little colour,

While the pulmonaria is expected, I am surprised how early this primula is this year.  I've seen a few of the wild primroses in flower too.

The rose pruning may be chilly, but a warmer task can be found indoors, pouring over the gardening catalogues looking for a new Dahlia.  I'm after a tall one, over 80cm, in a warm yellow colour.  In the past I've grown 'Boom Boom Yellow' which was as disappointing as its name.  It will be going in the Long Border, shown below in its bare Winter state, cut back and now ready for a good mulching.

Of course yellow is deeply unfashionable at present and purple and cafe au lait tones are in so there is not a huge amount to choose from. But it is yellow I need to complete the Gertrude Jekyll inspired colour scheme. 

That's all from me for now.  Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you again next week.