Books and seeds.

 My reading is, at the moment, eclectic to say the least.

I have The Repair Shop which I read to my husband. He loves the programme and the book's chapters tell the stories behind many of the items brought in for repair.

The Boy, Mole, Fox and Horse was given to me as a Christmas present. I'd heard a lot about it and was looking forward to reading it. It is certainly written with a lot of charm. I found some of the illustrations to be a little similar to the original Ernest Shepard's Winnnie the Pooh books. I haven't yet made my mind up about the book itself.

Meeting God in quiet places is a delightful, calming book. A chapter each night is very settling.

Then we come onto the important reading....my seed and plant catalogues! Since the photo I have received another three or four catalogues from different firms. They are such a joy to look at with photos of huge swathes of beautifully coloured plants.....something I have yet to achieve in my garden.

Having seeds is not the same as getting out there and planting them, I find. I'm a procrastinator....it's too cold. I've got too much to do.....etc. But eventually I get to it, and enjoy creating the beginnings of my Summer garden.

This visitor has been pottering round the garden for a few days now. I need to discourage my husband from murmuring 'It would make a very tasty casserole'!

I look forward to the time when the branches aren't denuded, when buds are appearing and climbers racing upwards. Soon.....

A Winter rose.

 

Delicate, pale and lovely, with slightly tatty leaves, but.......a bud of my Peace rose.

Amaryllis

 This little beauty went on to have three flowers altogether on the same stem. I didnt take a photo at the time.

I have cut the flowers off but left the stem, and I think that another stem is growing from the bulb. You never quite know what these lovelies are going to do.

Many of us seem to be writing about our Amaryllis at the moment. Lorrie has a beautiful bloom climbing her stairs! Granny Marigold showed us some different colours recently, and Mary always has lovely examples.

I'd welcome tips about keeping them till next year. Some say cut down, some not. Some say feed now, some say feed later. Do tell me what your advice for success is, please.

Little shoots.

I'm so thrilled to see that shoots of Daffodil bulbs are already appearing.

I planted a low bowl for the front doorstep with tulips and tiny daffodils, expecting them to take ages before they came up. But all of a sudden, tiny green spears are showing. 

January and February are such dull months. the weather is cold, bitterly cold today. The evenings are dark so early. The garden lies sleeping. 

Storms come rushing in. This morning I had to rescue my garden bin from the path, where it had blown away. The lid is cracked. But it could be worse. The house is warm and cosy. The grocery deliveries are on time so I dont have to go out shopping. England is in a poor state with the new virus variant and many of us worry and feel that more Government restrictions would have been sensible.

I picked these Camellias this morning, such a joyful flower. A little glow of colour in an otherwise dull garden.