New Year's Eve

This laurel provides a nice bit of lush green at this time of year. The frost has stayed around and we've even had a few of those rare winter sunny days. Staring out of the window has been a major occupation of late.

Getting frosty

This is a eucalyptus leaf; the frost really shows off its colour and leaves no damage. The back garden has been looking exceptionally pretty in the frost.

Santa on high

This year is our first try with a rooted tree. After Christmas it's going outside to recover and get all healthy for next year. That's the plan, anyway.

Star for December

This little shrub is looking great right now. I don't know what it is. It's at the back of the border so I need to move it towards the front by about two feet. That's planning for you.

Best broadies

Broad beans - the best and easiest things to grow. You can totally ignore them after sowing; they may collapse and not look very neat but they still produce. No appeal for slugs either which makes them more appealing for me. I've sown two triangle's worth in my new veg plot. Seeing new growth now is the best thing to get through the barren winter ahead. The netting is cat-proofing, by the way.

Hanging on

There are very few Field Maple leaves left. Unfortunately when these disappear we are back looking at next door. Roll on May...

By the way, I've made leaving comments easier so if you feel the urge, please let me know if you're reading (I need incentives this time of year).

All alone

This clematis, Ville de Lyon, is holding on despite quite a few heavy frosts. Can't quite remember when it started flowering but it's early days (only second year) and I didn't prune it last year. Have just read it's in pruning group three so I need to hard-prune it in late winter (mid-Feb) by cutting all stems back to 25cm above ground level. Each pruned stem needs at least one good pair of buds on it. So hopefully I'll now remember to do this (will write on the calendar).