As the sun set to herald the onset of the longest night of the year (at 15.36!!), I was pleased I’d remembered to take some photos for this week’s #SixOnSaturday. There’s a double celebration this week: Happy Solstice to those who celebrate our coming out of the dark. I’m looking forward to it. Here’s a bonus view from the west end of my garden, for once the solstice sunset was stunning.

And of course, this is Xmas week. I’m never sure, what a hugely over-hyped load of nonsense. But I do like a tree, and some tasty food and drink, so Happy Xmas to all who care. With celebrations in mind, I sought out blooms that had weathered the storms at the darkest moment of the year.

Courtyard roses, in a tub, probably never get enough water, but the stone walls shelter them from storms and cold, so here they are still flowering.

In full shade (all year round), just coming into bloom, and displaying last year’s fruit, I do like to view a sarcococca in the winter.

Nearby, growing out of the lime mortar in the garden’s old stone walls, ivy leaved toadflax has a few tiny delicate blooms, and some fresh green foliage.

A more classic winter flower comes from the viburnum shrub, I have several of these, they always bring forth copious flowers mid-winter. The trick is waiting for the wind to drop to get a good close up of the detail of their many flowers. I managed it.

I will admit that I had to resort to the greenhouse for today’s brightest bloom. A wonder geranium, which will hopefully winter in the greenhouse to provide next spring’s windowsill planting.

And, as the year turns and the light slowly starts to come back (tomorrow’s day will be 1 minute longer!), here’s a festive wreath to celebrate the circle of life.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. I hope wherever you are, and whether it’s the longest or shortest today, you enjoy seeing my garden while thinking about yours. Thanks to those leaving comments on the blog – sorry if I don’t always get back to you on time! The blog is going well, but it would be great if more folk on Mastodon, or other parts of the Fediverse got into tooting a Six! Go on, it’s a much kinder form of social media, not controlled by crazy billionaires. All you need to do is find 6 things in your garden to show us. Then post on social, or add a link at Jim’s blog below. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot