Snow in the Garden

I am going to take you on a tour of the garden. Not a very complete one because the snow is so thick, but pictures taken from the paths I have kept open walking on them. First we have a shot in the utility/veg garden. I had cleared the top of the compost bin so that I could empty stuff into it.The Geenhouse has its duvet of snow and the icicles formed by the sun on it in the afternoon.

Here we have the end of the path that leads to the Consevatory. Too much snow to crawl along it on hands and knees!

I do not find the seat very inviting, do you? But the scene is pretty.

To the left of the last picture, this is a plant of Senecio greyii, that looks even more enormous under its coat of snow. The Holly that we decapitated is looking rather sad.

What happens if this falls on my head as I walk under?

The same path from the other end.

Anyone for cucumber sandwiches?

The herbaceous borders.

This shrub looks nicely wrapped up!

And to finish, here is Roly's memorial seat, and the oak planted to celebrate the Millenium.

More snow pictures and icicles

Here are some icicles for starters. The first one is taken through the glass of our bathroom window.The second is some more of the same - from outside this time.

This is the biggest collection that I found walking round the village.

To end here are three snowy pictures. The first is a view looking north over a tiny quarry where they got the stone to do the roads, back in the 1920's

This Chapel has been bought and is being converted into a holiday home. They came to connect up the water pipe on the green yesterday. I can think of better conditions for a job like that!

I put my car out here the day before yesterday as it is beside the road. There was even more snow on it today.

This scene has been on my blog before, but the snow is just getting deeper and deeper, which makes it look different. I have to make my way out to the washhouse every morning, knocking snow off the shrubs that are hanging right down. The bird food lives there, so the trip is a must.

Another walk

Pictures of icicles on my greenhouse

Today we went together up to the third turbine. Here are some more pictures

G walking up into the bitter westerly wind

This is one of the bleakest views around here - to the Lake Distict hills. The sheep do not seem to mind

And we would like to know if you are going to thaw out our water troughs

A Wintery Walk

There has been a little more snow here since these pictures were taken in the garden. They are in lieu of flower pictures for Christmas/beginning of January.

Today, I went for a walk. First up to the Church, then on around the place to take pictures of the countryside. I think that they speak for themselves. I have included the Red Setter because he was the one truly lively thing that I saw!! The horses were marginally pleased to see me, but I had no food. Otherwise, apart from a few birds and the tractor, it was a dead but very beautiful scene.

Christmas 09

For the last few Christmases, I have taken pictures of flowers out for Christmas. This year there was nothing. There may have been the odd Helibore under the snow but as for roses - they were brown or so bedraggled as to not be worth taking. The Winter Jasmine was also brown, but with buds to bring hope. Since then the snow has increased and we are almost, though not quite, snowed in. I shall be back with pictures of flowers as soon as possible and will probably add a snowy picture to this blog. Happy New Year to anyone reading this and farewell friend to one of my followers, Woozle, who is now at peace.

A December Garden on a Grey Day

A few days late, I have got out into the sodden garden with my camera. Last night we had 1/4 inch of rain and today has varied between a clear blue sky and heavy showers. Most of the time I was taking pictures, the cloud was building up.

This first picture is of twigs of Belula ermanii pendular, which caught my eye. Sad about the telephone line!

I only took the twigs because I was in amongst the tree to take the mahonia, which is doing very nicely just now.

The Helibore is going over now, having been in full colour for at least a month.

The two roses were the only ones left that could be photographed. Graham Thomas has suffered in winds and rain. The other is an old rose that was moved years ago. I have no idea what it is.

I planted the Euonymus europeus several years ago and it has not flowered or produced any of these lovely red fruiting bodies until this year. I wonder if it is a plant that takes some time to do so? Someone may tell me. Anyway, I am now full of hope for a decent display next year, instead of just one!

These silvery leaves are hiding away and are so much colder to look at than the many gold/yellow leaved shrubs that are all around the garden. Their picures speak for themselves.

I put in this picture because it shows two years berries. The black ones at the bottom are from last year.

November Garden

Rather belatedly, here is my November garden, pictures taken on the 2nd November.

This Viburnam will flower until next April.





The berries on the Sorbus are eaten late, so we have the display for ages. The branches are well weighed down

The small Mahonia is flowering well and is seen here in context.






Graham Thomas is the best value of my Old English roses, flowering off and on till christmas The Hydrangea came from a co-in-law and is fairly small, flowers well and does not mind our limy soil

The fairly new shrub bed in the far corner is looking appropriately autumy








I love my brave little cyclamen who press on through foul and cold weather and spread themselves too.











Betula ermanii pendula is a joy throughout the winter with its creamy-white stem. The two young ones will not add to the view from my bedroom for a year or two.






The beech hedge was one of the best things I did when I first came. It is a marvellous shelter for the vegetable area.