The turning point has arrived. I’m ready to welcome in the ever-lengthening days and the garden is with me. There are new buds on the magnolia, the climbing hydrangea and there are flower buds forming on the mahonia. It is the time to celebrate seed heads and berries and the garden here does offer up some goodies – just a few. Here’s my six for this week.
One
I have been meaning to share the cotoneaster horizontalis for some weeks now and as you can see I should have done it sooner. The positive thing is that the birds have been enjoying the berries.
Two
Of course there must be holly at Christmas time. No berries here!
Three
For seed heads, I can offer the lovely whorls of the phlomis.
Four
And here the remains of the flower heads on the hibiscus syriacus ‘Red Heart’.
Five
The flowers on the viburnum are just beginning to open.
Six
Lastly, the lime green flowers of some hellebores. These are meant to be ‘Pretty Ellen’ but I have very strong doubts.
This is my last post until the New Year. I wish everyone peace and joy, a good gardening year to come and I look forward to catching up with you all in 2025. Many thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for continuing to host our SOS gatherings.
n20gardener 
Too bad for a holly without berries. Have you ever had a few in the past?
Wow for the viburnum flowers….
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I think only once or twice
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and Happy Christmas !!
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My OH told me it is a very bad year for holly berries. Love that limey (or limy?) hellebore. Nothing on mine yet. Have a fabulous Christmas x
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And very happy Christmas to you and your OH too.
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That Hellebore is looking good whatever it is. Happy Christmas.
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Happy Christmas to you too
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Merry Christmas! The viburnum is lovely, I’m looking forward to longer daylight hours as well.
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I noticed a bud on my dark red hellebore as I swiftly moved past this afternoon. Far too wet and windy to be outdoors. Your viburnum is looking lovely. And I love phlomis seed-heads, probably better than when flowering, though saying that I am currently considering one of the pretty pale pink ones. Happy Christmas N20 and here’s to a much better gardening year in 2025. A bit more sun would be nice!
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So late in my replies! It’s Happy New Year time! I keep looking at the pink ones. The leaves on the yellow ones do spread out but they keep the weeds down!
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I really like the combination of pink and white flowers and the pale green buds on the Viburnum. Very pretty indeed. Merry Christmas.
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English holly in England? Well, I suppose that it came from somewhere. It is naturalized within some riparian situations here, although it does not seem to be a major problem for the ecosystem. It happens to be one of my favorites for glossy evergreen foliage, particularly as a hedge, . . . although maintaining it is not so much fun.
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So prickly. Truly difficult!!
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I might plant a hedge of feral seedlings, and if I do so, I am hopeful that their stiff branches will be enough to exclude deer.
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I’m not so keen on Phlomis but at seed head time really wish I had some in the garden, they’re so striking. It doesn’t seem to be a great year for Holly berries but the glossy leaves more than make up for it. Have a lovely Christmas.
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A belated reply. I hope your Christmas went well.
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It was lovely thanks. We spent it in Belfast with family.
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Thanks for sharing! ❄️
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