The problem is, that the press select what gets noticed. Tices story will never get plastered on the front page of the tabloids or on BBC

Wow…

The Boss has spoken.

Yes, but it’s all deflecting from his Epstein problem…

Cold today, snow persists. But still flowering is my Jasmine, Chaenomeles and Coronilla all defying this weather.

a happy new year greeting card with fireworks in the background ALT: a happy new year greeting card with fireworks in the background

Happy New Year

Liriope muscari

Nope, was trying to join the gardening thing. If anybody knows how please let me know …

Just checking if I can now post here

Just dawned on them then?

They could start by taxing the people who are dodging tax instead of hitting the poor and elderly. They look like thugs doing it. And they need to claw back all the money stolen during covid. Increase tax threshold to help those on low incomes.

My first magnolia to flower this year

A few more flowers to cheer us up today

My garden is waking up despite the persistent cold air. Here are a couple of plants performing nicely just now, a saxifrage in a container garden and a clump of crocus

I’ve been bringing in a few examples of special snowdrops to look at in detail. Here are two of them

On left isGreenpeace the other is Fred’s Giant

Sunny cool day today. Thought I’d cheer things up with flowers. This is Galanthus Spindlestone Surprise

Centaurea ?cyanus. Lovely flowers but… it liked my garden too much. Took ages to dig it all out…

Paeonia Bowl of Beauty
Not in my garden, but instantly recognisable when you see it.

Celmisia semicordata. - grown for its silver strap like foliage and bright white daisy flowers. A native of New Zealand.

Digitalis purpurea, the common foxglove, can be seen everywhere in summer, its tall purple spires swaying in the breeze. I grow some in the garden every year.

Pulsatilla vulgaris. Often seen flowering around Easter time and is commonly known as Pasqueflower flower. Can be purple, maroon, red , or white.

Crocuses, so many species and a rainbow of colours to choose from. Should be in every garden…

Aethionema sp, flowers for long time in late spring.

Kalmia species. Seen at Glenwhan, a garden in SW Scotland near Logan Botanic Garden. Well worth a visit

Clematis Montana Freda. Blooms in spring. Not too vigorous but provides an eye catching display April/May time

Eranthis hyemalis, commonly known as winter aconite just suddenly pops up and seems to be happy in dry shade. It will spread around quite well if left to its own devices. Native to Western Europe but naturalised widely

Hepatica cultivar. Probably from japonica but no matter… they bloom in February-March time. There are so many different ones, colours across the spectrum really. They don’t come true from seed either and often slow to bulk up. Many command high prices as a result but they are beautiful

Amerine is a cross between Amaryllis and Nerine. They are quite big bulbs and are proving to be hardy in my northern garden. They produce very sturdy stems that have survived strong winds too. Flowers in October here.

Hellebores are available in garden centres everywhere at this time of year. They like some shade to grow well and provide colour in early spring

No flowers today. Just my Poppy, more joy than anything growing in the garden.