The garden has been frozen for about a week but the lying frost has gone now and warm temperatures are heading this way – for a few days. Storm Goretti howled around for a while but thankfully did not do us any damage. The lowest temperature recorded in the greenhouse was -4.5 degrees centigrade. The garden tour this morning revealed plenty of new shoots, jobs to be done and plants going over. Here’s the six for this week.
One
The hellebores really do some heavy lifting at this time of year. I have some that readily self seed but these ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ just stay in their place and do their thing. I have not yet cut back any leaves, a job that is weighing on my conscience.
Two
The flowers on the viburnum have just begun to open. I lost one old shrub this year and this one had a very severe chop back. It was more of a tree than a shrub. Here’s hoping it will grow back well and into a good shape.
Three
The ornamental grasses have done well but are beginning to look scruffy. Cutting them back will be a job for the end of January, but here’s a miscanthus that still looks good.
Four
Losses to box blight and caterpillar damage has left me with one sole survivor, this sarcococca confusa which is generously showing its flowers and berries. I hope it can hold out against attack again.
Five
I have four ‘Wisely’ roses that I allowed to grow up tall and wide. They need a thorough prune each year to thin out the stems. This year I am thinking that it is time to reduce the height as well. I could be some time.
Six
The wooden compost heap bins were installed about six years ago and are rotting away. This has been on the ‘to do’ list for about six months. Perhaps going public with it will encourage me to order the replacement slats and posts and get started.
Things are stirring in the garden, which means that although it’s all a bit lean at the moment there are good things on the horizon. Our host Jim at Garden Ruminations continues to turn up new gems, including updates on Beaver the hedgehog so do stop by and have a look.
n20gardener 
I do love Pretty Red Ellen, especially as I have a sister-in-law called Ellen. She isn’t red though. I love a bit of rose pruning, would you like me to pop over and help? 😊
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😂 now wouldn’t that be nice!
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Miscanthus is so pretty, but it is terribly invasive over here, and especially bad for prairie ecosystems as it can survive the fires used to shut down other invasive species. The hellebore is a great color!
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That’s interesting about the miscanthus. I’ll have to watch it.
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I noticed that several of my hellebores are beginning to flower. One red one is open, a pink and white in bud. Also a couple of iris reticulata opened yesterday! No extreme temperatures here, but I don’t want to go through another storm like Thursday night!
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The west caught it first. By the time it got us it was weakening.
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That hellebore ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ is gorgeous! You’re lucky to have such a lovely flower right now, just a little more patience here. I hope the storm didn’t cause too much damage at your place?
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We really didn’t suffer too much at all. No damage. Just have to see if everything survived the cold. Seems okay so far.
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Your hellebore is beautiful! Amazing colour for this time of the year. And the viburnum flowers are so lovely and delicate.
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Blimey – do box caterpillars attack sarcococca as well as normal Box? I’ll have to keep an eye on mine as I got rid of my Box balls a few years ago after getting weary of trying to remove the caterpillars after a two year battle. Yours is ahead of mine. I love ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ – very pretty indeed.
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I think RHS says sarcococca is safe but mine didn’t hold out long. So I’d say keep an eye on them!
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Wow, that is an impressive hellebore. I should have gotten pictures of ours. (They do not perform well here, but sometimes produce a few nice flowers.) Is that viburnum the laurustinus?
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It could well be. I inherited it and judging by its size it has been here for years.
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Beautiful! That ‘Pretty Ellen Red’ really lives up to its name. Everything is hidden under a layer of snow here in Mid Wales, though the temperatures are due to rise over the next couple of days.
Best wishes for 2026!
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I also have a viburnum that believed it was a tree and I cut back drastically but it hasn’t responded as well as yours. Still sulking from ill treatment I think
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We really did get off lightly. I hope you don’t have any losses
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Oh, the Viburnum flowers are lovely! Heavy lifting is a good way to describe the Hellebores–they are such tough little beauties!
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The Miscanthus seed heads are still looking good here as well, long may they stand. Good luck with the rose pruning – I hope you’ve a sturdy pair of gloves.
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