We can always buy our way to a new season if we really don’t want to wait, maybe with a rose, grown thousands of miles away. It’s beauty is not in doubt, but it’s cost is questionable and you can stick your nose into it until you’re blue in the face but you won’t detect any scent – always a bit of a disappointment that.It’s a stop/start time at the moment. Beautiful sunny days, freezing nights, my pond has been completely frozen for the first time in years. Every gardener you speak to expresses the hope that the infestations left behind by mild winters will be killed off and if we have a prolonged spell of cold maybe they will, but I doubt it. Gone is the teeth-numbing bitter cold of 25 plus years ago and it won’t be coming back any time soon.
That being the case, anything that looks a bit sad after a chilly night will soon perk up in the watery gleam of an early morning and at least the lawn left mushy and sodden after weeks of torrential rain, (though thankfully no flooding since this area is on a hill) was comfortably frozen solid so quite firm enough to walk on enabling a visit to the further reaches of my particular “postage stamp” size plot.The Clematis armandii is brave enough to venture forth, two blooms only though, the remainder is still too timid to brave the icy blast.
Daphne odora is still reluctant, though the pretty deep pink buds show well in the sunshine and it won’t be long before that heady scent can be enjoyed.
But the star of my particular little show is Viburnam burkwoodii my absolute winter favourite with it’s brave little stars and a scent that blows you away!
