Yes, amazingly I have made a dent in the ‘to do’ list. All the shrub roses have been pruned, the autumn fruiting raspberries have been cut back and, just in time, the vine has been also been pruned. There is much to be said for pruning the roses in December. At this time of year I find myself tiptoeing around the newly emerging Spring bulbs. It can be very challenging. I have made a start on the ‘Blush Noisette’ climbing rose, several times in fact. There are two of them growing against a wall and much ruthlessness is needed. I find I need several goes before I achieve the optimum level of devil may care attitude! There is another cold spell due next week with the possibility of an overnight frost, but there is no denying the garden is on the move. This is very positive but it also means the losses over winter are becoming clearer. Here’s my six for this week.
One
Skimmia ‘Lime Green’ suffered from die-back of several of the branches and I have no idea why. I cut all the dead back before winter and although it looks rather thin at the moment, it is showing signs of life. I hope it manages to grow back from the base.
Two
The cordyline, liberated from a pot in the summer, really does look like a gonna. As with all the dead looking plants, I will leave this in the ground until I am really sure it is beyond hope.
Three
Dead but appropriately so. These are the seed heads of rudbeckia. They are a source of food for the goldfinches and so are always left standing over winter. Phlox is another plant that doesn’t get cut back, no seeds but good for winter cover for the foraging birds.
Four
More and more hellebores are coming through, this is another ‘Pretty Ellen’. I have my eye on the space where two others were newly planted out in September but there are no signs of them yet.
Five
More signs of life in the greenhouse. I bought some gaura in September and wisely decided not to plant them out but to keep them in the greenhouse over winter. It wasn’t looking too good a week or so ago but as the temperature creeps up so the new growth has come through.
Six
A definite sign of Spring, the very first crocus has appeared. I think I bought these bulbs in an end of season sale at the garden centre so they were planted quite late. Miscellaneous white is all I can say about them. Oh, and very lovely to see.
This weekend I am off to buy my seed potatoes from a local allotment shop. It may be a limited range but I am hoping they will have that reliable doer ‘Charlotte’. Jim, our charming Six On Saturday host, has a colourful post this week. The first daffodil and more of his wonderful collection of camellias. Happy gardening.
n20gardener 
You did a good job with all those prunings…! Otherwise I’m afraid like you that the cordyline is over… waiting but it looks ruined to me. Pretty hellebore with these freckles and my first crocus has appeared here too but mine is yellow
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Doesn’t it feel good to get “the list” underway? Loving your little crocus, mine are far behind. Good idea about the “suspected dead” brigade, I’m going to give mine a far while before they are compost heap bound. Enjoy your week. 🙂
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Some of my hellebores are slow to emerge this year. I’m still hoping 🤞 The first of my crocuses has flowered – a yellow one – but the rest are just leaves poking through. Eight Aconites and three snowdrops so far. It’s going to be a looooong time before this bed is a carpet of spring bulbs!
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I’ve quite a few crocus up but the buds are staying tightly shut for want of sun. It’s in the forecast, with the frost!
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I really should put in crocus. There are a few near the house that were there when we moved in. A white with purple stripes, a purple, and a white. But they are in the weedy area next to the house that is my next project. More crocuses to be planted in the fall, and I am researching native plants that are low growing and love full sun and dry conditions. I have a few ideas and I will buy a couple of things to try out (short listed are more blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium campestre), prairie onion (Allium stellatum), and dwarf liatris (Liatris cylindracea). Depending on how things go, next year, I will buy seed or bare root specimens to fill in the rest of the strip next to the house, where some tulips and daffodils grow along with muscari, but when they are done, nothing!
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I have two cordylines that look similar to yours, the early frost in December seemed to do them in. I wondered if their sap was too high and the frost too long.
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Shame about the cordyline, we have seen lots looking like this in front gardens while out and about.
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What do you suppose happened to the Cordyline?! Unless dug from the ground for transplant, they do not die easily.
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Oh your poor Cordylines. Fingers crossed they revive. It’s lovely to see the first crocus and feel that Spring is here (sort of).
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You’ve been busy on the pruning front. I must get on with the few Roses that I have. The Cordylines certainly look like they’ve had it but the Gauras are looking good.
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