There’s no getting away from the fact that, as I get older, I like being cold less and less, which makes me pretty sick of January….but the dark-dark month is almost gone, and a sunny morning gave me a few things to choose from for a cheery #SixOnSaturday.

Hellibores are a little slow, but at least have some sparkly leaves as the frost melts.

I do keep coming back to hazel catkins, but they are more interesting than most other trees right now. Some blossoms bouncing in the morning breeze against a blue sky.

Fleshy leaved plants are holding their own against the cold weather. I don’t know that variety of huechera I have here. I found it growing as a ‘weed’ in my veg plot.

Talking of the veg garden, cavalo nero are one of the few veg I can overwinter. This one is full of frost but has a tiny single drop of water at the centre.

Though they look delicate, hardy geraniums are, well, doing the hardy thing. This one has cheeky little brown dots on the leaf edges.

And finally….ta da…..snowdrops are now FULLY doing their thing. A cheery start to the growing season.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.

The light at this time of year can be magical: I’ll share some of that magic in my #SixOnSaturday. Goodness knows, I need it! I’m finding it hard to find much in the garden, except rest….rest from the endless growing. Perhaps just as well as I have lots of tidying to do before spring.

Starting with amazing light, I find it hard to capture in a photo. Then I noticed great swathes of light, sucked into reflection off the icy pond.

My second this week is a medley of icy bits and pieces on the lawn. As you can see my lawn is about 20% grass, 10% weeds (wildflowers) and 70% moss….looks nice with a scattering of leaves and some frost.

I have saved some foliage for a little winter interest, places for insects to hide, and generally the inability to tidy the garden yet. Phlomis seed heads do look lovely at this time of year.

There has been some cold clear weather this week, so my next two show off the beautiful blue sky. Rhododendron buds have a long way to go yet, but look at the BLUE.

It is good to keep looking up. Today there were chaffinch and even a bullfinch foraging on buds at the top of a tall whitebeam. The shape is picked out nicely against the cold blue sky.

It did get very cold…..back in the house new things are happening. My best pot of chilli seedlings so far are from seed I forgot to label. Big seeds, so perhaps from a big chilli? I’m hoping its Ohnivec (from realseeds.co.uk), these were delicious last year.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. Al 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.

I’m crazy busy at work just now, but even with that to distract me, January is rather a drag. So many dull, wet days. Despite this, I’ve managed to find a bit of colour and form for this week’s #SixOnSaturday.

First up, some gorgeous form, from sempervivum. I just discovered these are known as ‘houseleeks’ because leek derives from anglo-saxon for plant, and they used to grow to thatched roofs….cute. What wonderful spikiness.

Next, some colour and form. My little lemon tree has been sheltering in the greenhouse since November. This winter is has 4 lemons, each are developing nicely.

Whilst I was also sheltering in the greenhouse, I spotted the shininess of a small chard plant, which is also wintering. I often pot these on when they start to grow in Feb/Mar to give lots of leaves in spring (though if its warm, the pots need to go out to stop the plants bolting.

The ground warmed up enough recently for me to harvest last year’s oca (also called New Zealand yam). I didn’t manage to harvest in December as we had a sharp cold-snap, and I’d feared they might be frosted, but quite a few have made it through. Currently they are stored in the chilly greenhouse. They are a great addition to stir fry meals, with a light, lemony, nutty flavour.

On my way out of the greenhouse my eye was drawn again to the pot of pansies that continue to give joy, whatever weather is thrown at us.

Not quite so much colour, but plenty of form, I’m excited to report that the very first snowdrop is in flower. Possibly good timing as snow is forecast for late this weekend.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. Al 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/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.

The first #SixOnSaturday of 2023. I wish I had a bit more enthusiasm for the new year, but with the entire UK infrastructure on its knees, a Govt that expects us not to notice, and the world full of wet, wind, darkness; hmm, it’s hard. But I managed to find a few bits of inspiration around the garden. Some lovely, some a little more basic.

First up, this doesn’t look much but it represents hope for the coming season. I always sow a few chilli seeds in the first week of the year. here they are, about to be placed onto a warm windowsill. Though given the temperature we run the house at during the day, i might need to pop on the electric propagator instead.

Next, despite a still-recovering tendon injury to my elbow, I managed a little pruning this week. Buddleja: here it is before the pruning. It’s trying to grow, but I fear for the whole plant due to wind-rock in our current stormy conditions.

Despite a range of frost, snow, rain, wind, viola are giving growth a go. No flowers, but this is a start.

I managed to catch the one sunny day in what feels like weeks to grab a bit more light for my remaining 3. Here’s sunrise along the garden wall on that morning: garden to the left, a farmer’s field of winter wheat to the right.

Honesty seed heads positively glow with sunlight behind them. This was close to noon: the sun is so low (11 deg) at this time of year.

Last but not least, here come the hazel catkins. These are always a joy to watch develop. Not in flower yet, and the tiny male one is not in site. But things are starting to stir.

I hope you enjoyed my #SixonSaturday. Stay safe, take care out there, and don’t forget to follow the crowd on Mastodon. We are starting to get the sixes going on Mastodon (other instances in the Fediverse are available), but we need a few more folk to toot on the topic: come join us. For regulars, our organiser is Jim at https://gardenruminations.co.uk/. Also on twitter @JamesLStephens. And I’m now mostly on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot.