Mildness abounds except a local bout of fuming that took place yesterday afternoon. The Christmas tree proved reluctant to take its proper place in the tree stand and it was only after some hard work with the loppers and a saw that we were able to reach a satisfactory conclusion. The tree is about a foot shorter now but it is standing upright. Mildness restored, although the week ahead looks chillier. This is the last six from me for two weeks as Christmas and the New Year roll in.
One
The tree is bought from a local nursery and I couldn’t leave without a quick look round at their stock. I have not been imaginative with the winter planting for the containers so these bellis found their way to the cash desk in some attempt to liven up the pots.
Two
Hellebore and snowdrop season approaches and I was also tempted by, thanks to a SOS from Hortus Bailey, a small pot of ‘Christmas Carol’. Little by little the collection grows.
Three
I have seen so many tweets of cotoneaster this year. It seems to have been a great year for the leaf colour and the berries have stayed around for longer. This is a horizontalis, and over the years I have come to appreciate its contribution to the winter front garden.
Four
Pruning the roses continues and sometimes includes the cutting back of flowering stems. This is a miniature version of ‘Darcey Bussell’.
Five
As I now have several branches of Christmas tree going spare, I will be foraging in the garden again. This time I will be putting together some kind of garland for the bannisters. I have some kitsch fir cone lights and a slightly tatty length of fake berries. I’m hoping wonders can be created with the addition of ivy from the fences. If in doubt add more!
Six
I hope this rather unappealing collection of leaves holds much promise. The last veg standing on the veg plot is always the parsnips. Next week I shall be digging them up in the hope that there is enough for our Christmas lunch. If I’m lucky there may even be some left for a curried parsnip soup.
Wishing you all Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays and above all a Healthy New Year. Thanks to The Propagator for creating this meme and thanks to everyone who takes part and shares their love of gardening. See you all again in 2022.
n20gardener 
I’ve just been admiring One Man and His Garden Trowel’s Cotoneaster, and now here is yours! It’s a very appealing Christmasy colour. I do hope you have a good Christmas lunch with those parsnips. Have fun with your decorations, I love doing that sort of thing.
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I keep meaning to pop into the garden centre to see if they have any bellis as my spring pots have simply been covered with alpine grit so look a bit boring, though already leaves are popping through! It is incredibly mild. Have a wonderful festive season and see you back in the new year. Only three days until the shortest day! Yay! 🤶🎄✨
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Jealous to see hellebores already in your garden…
The curried parsnip soup sounds tasty ! 😋
Happy Christmas to you and yours, L.
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‘Darcey Bussell’ is a fabulous colour.
Re the Christmas tree – work deserving of a decent drink!
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Bellis perennis is a naturalized lawn weed here. It is actually more persistent than dandelion, probably because it is too pretty to pull. They are the simple white sort. I was sort of aghast when someone here purchases some fancier varieties as bedding plants, although I do happen to like them.
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How funny that they are a lawn weed with you! I’ll have to be careful what I wish for but I think I would like that kind of lawn weed!
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Well, . . . that might be why it is a weed. It might be no more voracious than dandelion, but could seem to proliferate merely because no one wants to pull it out. During the late 1960s, a groundskeeper at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco plugged it randomly into many of the vast lawns. There was no plan. It was all just random, which looked rather weird on the few formal and symmetrical lawns there. (Not many lawn are symmetrical in Golden Gate Park.) It is now something that one expects to see throughout Golden Gate Park.
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Some lovely winter offerings, especially the cotoneaster. The ivy garland sounds quite promising. Your parsnips look very robust; I hope they fulfill your expectations.
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Many thanks. I have fingers crossed for the parsnips!!
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