The last weekend in January has come, bringing the light with it. Even when I’m driven in from the garden by cold winds and squally rain, the sun is still up until 4.30pm now……feels better. This week, I’ve managed to go mostly green for my #SixOnSaturday, and include a couple of proper winter flowers. It was fun to collect some garden colour, even though quite a bit of it comes from the greenhouse this week.

I’ll start with the very best of the season, witch hazel is now in full bloom, a strange but lovely shrub.

Now for the greens. As I strode in from the drive towards the greenhouse, some wonderful moss on one of the old apple trees caught my eye, looking almost lurid in the low sunlight.

And then into the greenhouse. A small lemon tree avoiding the frosts does look a little lacking in nutrients, yet the yellow veining is a compelling pattern. Are the tiny white spots just pores? i think so.

Summer geranium usually make it through by spending 3 months in the greenhouse too. This one is enjoying a sunny January morning.

The last greenhouse green is a little experiment. A California poppy did really well for me in a pot (they don’t self-seed well, I fear its too cold and wet over winter), so it has the treat of a greenhouse winter. So far, so good.

Last, but not at all least, back in the borders I’ve managed to clear away last years dead stuff, to find snow drops emerging and bursting into bloom.

I hope you enjoyed my mostly green, hopeful #SixOnSaturday this week. 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, its 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

The cold snap has gone, we’re expecting dangerous winds tomorrow. There’s not much incentive to get into the garden. But I struggled out to find six lovely things. here’s my #SixOnSaturday.

The first is a bit of a cheat. Some daffs seemed to be coming up a bit quickly, so I moved the pot into the greenhouse. Here’s a cute little January daffodil.

On a bright, sunny afternoon, the light caught the structure in a twisty hazel tree.

I’ve been pleased to see some signs of spring. Furry magnolia buds are coming.

Sempervivum, I’m never sure what they are for, but on a cold winter windowsill, they do at least look to be thriving, hanging in there waiting for less harsh days.

I have a witch hazel hiding in a shady corner. We really must be approaching the lighter days, it is just about to flower.

Last, but not least, something green. Somehow, parsley seems to be surviving the winter storms.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

If you squint a bit, and it’s a clear afternoon, it really does feel now like those nights are drawing out, at least a bit. And there are some signs of new growth in the garden and in the greenhouse. Here’s a hopeful #SixOnSaturday, showcasing a great mix of colour and form in my winter garden.

First, take a look at some random bulb growth showing some cheer in the long-light before sunset. These could be daffs, but I suspect they are probably Spanish bluebells.

At the other end of the garden, wallflower are blooming. I like the fact that this variety have both yellow and red buds/flowers.

Buds are starting to bulge now, here are some soft camellia buds against those gorgeous shiny leaves.

I keep myself sane through winter by trying a few things in the greenhouse. This year radicchio are having a go. There’s not much growth since November, but they are alive and their intricate colours are a treat.

Despite the frost and the shady location, sarcococca are flowering, and producing a surprisingly strong, sweet (almost too sweet for me) fragrance. I will bring a few stems into the house for a vase, let’s see if we can cope with their scent indoors.

Last, but not least, my favourite hellebore is now in bud, this is going to be a lovely dark purple flower…looking forward to it.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot

A New Year, with enough rain in the first week to fill January! Luckily, there were a few bright times for a nip out into the garden. I had a good look around to find what’s bringing garden joy as the year begins. Here are my favourites for #SixOnSaturday

My gardening year starts in the first week of January with a ritual sowing of the first chilli seeds. You can see them being sown in the greenhouse, but they will come into a base-heated propagator in the warm house, before graduating to a warm windowsill for many weeks to come.

I would not have bet that the first decent flower I saw this year was a primrose, but here are 3 shivering little blooms in a sheltered corner.

Some of my flower beds will need to be cut back very soon, rather than waiting for their usual spring haircut. Seemed like a good time to enjoy the last of the fennel seed heads.

Over the last few years i have come to love hardy geranium. Even in the gloom of winter the plants are stealing themselves for the year ahead. Bring on spring!

Looking back up towards the sky, hazel catkins are budding.

Last but not least, no flowers yet, despite the mild wet weather, but there is promise in a little clump of snowdrops, they are on their way.

That’s my #SixOnSaturday for this week. Who knows what the climate situation will bring us this year? Whatever it is, I hope you don’t experience too many disruptions to personal circumstances. Join the sixes on Mastodon or other instances in the Fediverse via #SixOnSaturday, 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 the former birdsite, for those who must: @JamesLStephens. And I’m on mastodon @julie3dharris@mastodon.scot