Tag: winter

New Stu-stu-studio!!

As a rule, I start to feel gloomy when the clocks go back. This year, I remain chipper because of my fabulous new ’shed’. I finally have a proper design studio*, rather than a weeny desk in the corner of our bedroom. I might just move out there, it’s sooo wonderful. There’s a photo tour below for your delectation! (*Correct pronunciation: “Stu-stu-studio” ala… Read more →

Embracing This False Spring

I am coming out of hibernation, like the frogs that have been hopping around my garden this week. False spring or not, my brain and body are convinced that it’s time to face the world again. This winter, I experienced the worst anxiety I have ever had to endure. So bad, in fact, that I resorted to drugs (the good… Read more →

Winter Reflections

I’m sitting at my desk, wearing thermals under a woolly jumper, and grabbing a few minutes to write before venturing out into the cold to do a survey for a new garden design. It’s taken me weeks, as usual, to come to terms with and embrace the fact that winter is inevitably here. I have lived in the UK for… Read more →

Winter Cherry Blossom To Banish Your Blues

It’s February. Finally!! I don’t get on with January. It’s too grey, too cold, too dull, and too not-Christmas. But February is nearly spring. So I like it. One thing that has helped me get me through the particularly dreadful weather and cold/flu season that was January 2018, was the winter-flowering cherry tree in our front garden. I love this… Read more →

Plants For Winter Gardens

This week, I visited Anglesey Abbey, just outside Cambridge, and the University Botanic Garden. The back end of winter might seem a strange time to visit gardens. Spring plants are not yet in full growth and many winter-interest plants are almost over. But I was pleasantly surprised. There were wonderful winter borders to enjoy – Angelsey Abbey is famous for its winter garden –… Read more →

Here Be Dragons (And Other Reasons Not To Tidy)

I’m starting to feel the urge to get outside and tidy up my garden. There’s a creeping temptation at this time of year to start cutting back and preparing for new growth. Crocosmia clumps look awful, brown and floppy. There are ugly, black, rotted acanthus leaves, and flat ferns. Honesty seedheads are shredded. And there are dead leaves and fallen branches everywhere. But I’m going… Read more →

F is for Frost :: A to Z of Gardens

If there’s one thing that redeems January for me, it’s stunning, sunny, frosty Norfolk mornings, like today’s. The air is crisp and sweet, and the sunrise so pink and pretty that my heart sings. Plants can look quite beautiful in the frost. Heucheras particularly suit their common name ‘Coral Bells’ when frosted. I like the the way the frost picks out the detailed… Read more →

How To Make A Christmas Wreath

I’m feeling very excited about Christmas. My husband, who is a children’s writer, was finally able to give up his retail ‘day job’ a few months ago, so we’ll actually be able to spend the whole holiday period together this year (and we’ll be boycotting the Boxing Day sales!) I put decorations up all over the house at the beginning of the month, and… Read more →

Winter Has Landed… And It’s Beautiful

We’ve just had our first proper frost of minus 3 degrees. The garden looked gorgeous first thing, like it had been dusted with icing sugar. It’s 11 o’clock now but the frost is hanging on as the temperature is still pretty low. Where ever the sun catches it, ice crystals glitter. Stunning blue skies, bitterly cold, clear air, bright sunshine and… Read more →

A Bad Case Of Winter Denial

As usual, I’m finding the transition from autumn to winter a tricky one. The clocks went back but I’m struggling to accept that the growing season is over. I have not yet wrapped my banana tree up with fleece to protect it from the cold that is inevitably coming. I failed to plant garlic cloves and broad beans in the raised beds before… Read more →