Woodlice Evicted From Lantern-Rock

5am on a pitch-black January morning is not the time to discover that you have no outside lighting. Low cloud obscured any light from the waning moon, resulting in a valley shrouded in a tar-like blackness. As soon as the sun had risen our investigation began. The culprits were soon tracked down......Woodlice!

These armadillo-like bugs are the only crustaceans to live inland. Their bodies, composed like a knight's armour, are a series of overlapping plates. They adore moisture because they breathe through their gills. Their ideal home is a dark,damp place with access to decaying plant matter and fresh root-stock. However, in their defence, they are not in the league of honeyfungus when it comes to root destruction. But, they do present their own challenges!

They have discovered their perfect pad this winter; in the base of our electric lanterns. Sadly for them, eviction from 'Lantern-Rock was our only option!

The Wolf Moon

Walking down through the woods, with the sun was setting behind me in a rose quartz sky, I was spellbound when I reached a glade and saw tonight's 'Wolf Moon'. This is the name given to the first full moon after the 'Yule Moon'. According to Native American folklore it is thus named to represent the wolves howling in the cold midwinter. If I hadn't known that I was facing east I could easily have mistaken this golden globe for the setting sun. It was mesmerising with an ethereal, icy aura -a natural phenomenon that truly takes your breath away. The full moon will be exact at 21.21GMT. I've just been out to have a look, the sky is cloudless & the moon is now glowing ice white. The frosty garden is floodlit and enchanted. Other names for the moon are Luna, Selene & Isis - I have always known that we are lucky to live with the companionship of our snow-white dog Isis, who was born on New Year's Eve, just before the Wolf Moon!

Tulip Princess Irene

Today has been mild but wet, not a particularly tempting scenario for the amateur gardener. However, a pack of dutch tulip bulbs were winking at me from the window ledge just begging to be planted. They promise deep crimson petals with a tequila sunrise edge, to be honest the picture looks like an exotic cocktail. So out we went to bed them down in the medeterranean planters next to the front door. Another treat to look forward to in the spring as long as we have't planted them too late!

We found another task to fill the grey January afternoon, decanting the Sloe-Gin. To our surprise it's the exact colour promised on our packet of tulips!

First Buds Of Spring

What a beautiful sight above the pond - the Witch-hazel is flowering - a sign that spring is not very far away. This shrub is an excellent addition to any garden for the joy that it brings in January. Although the rain may be falling & the celtic mists shroud the trees, the golden yellow flowers of the witch-hazel bring sunshine to the winter landscape & the promise of nature's blessings to come.