Six On Saturday: These ever shorter days

/ n20gardener

I’m feeling the gloom of a dull December. The garden is so wet that nothing can be done. Mild weather continues but with it comes the rain and so the lawn is still squelchy and the borders cannot be cleared of weeds. Finding six things is always interesting at this time of year but there were some pleasant surprises.

One

There was a brief respite from the rain and the ivy to decorate the house was quickly collected and brought inside. It’s used to hang elegantly around pictures and to wrap around the stairs. There’s plenty to choose from!

Two

The ferns are dying back, at this stage they provide a rusty brown contrast to the remaining greens in the garden. I inherited these but I think they are dryopteris filix mas.

Three

This is possibly my new favourite rose, so I share it with you again. It still looks spindly and I am hoping that this summer will see it really settle in. In the meantime it does put out the most beautifully coloured flowers. ‘Lady of Shallot’.

Four

I lost a euphorbia mellifera over the last winter but miraculously another one self seeded. It’s looking so full of optimism at the moment. Harsh weather may change that.

Five

There is another new flower bud on the climbing rose that I moved this year. This is ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’.

Six

Appropriately for this time of year the helleborus argutifolius is opening up its flower buds. Also known as the holly leaved hellebore it makes a good companion to the ivy.

I’m still confessing to not having planted tulip bulbs. Perhaps next week. I’ll be here for a last SOS before Christmas. Until then, join us over at Jim’s place for the weekly get together and have a good time enjoying some green spaces in this dull December. Better still, take a look at the SOSs from the Southern Hemisphere!

18 thoughts on “Six On Saturday: These ever shorter days”

  3. Yes, it’s a dull time of the year and a struggle to find anything bright and interesting in the garden. But, there are some little points of interest and, sure if we fail to find them, we can always stay indoors and be warm and cosy and enjoy a bite to ear and something to drink! There’s a season for everything.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Lady of Shallot looks a superb rose, and I am sure with a little manure etc it will do fine. I find that roses do need a little space around the base and don’t do well if there are too many plants crowding in.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Hellebore argutifolius is one of only two types of hellebores here, and actually performs reasonably well. Feral Hellebore X hybridus inhabits its same area in the landscapes, but typically does not perform so well. I got a picture of one for my Six on Saturday because it looks atypically nice, like those in other climates.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment