Gertrude's Here!

"What a difference a day makes; twenty four little hours," so the song goes...

Yesterday's cut glass skies have been replaced by blustering Gertrude running amok!  It's certainly warmer but what a high price to pay, the garden is now strewn with decaying debris; brittle branches broken away from the trees in the fearsome gusts.  Fur and feathers will literally fly as the garden's residents struggle to find food and shelter.  Tiny song birds will quickly lose energy as they strive to keep warm.  Squirrels, pheasants, as well as wild birds are scrabbling for the scattered seed from the fallen birdtable, another of Gertrude's victims.

In the lee of the hill, we are generally protected from the prevailing westerly winds.   But tonight, as Gertrude journeys eastwards the patio and rose garden lie directly in her path...  Tomorrow, the first day of February, I will venture out early to assess the damage.

Full Moon

From frost to fifteen degrees, what is happening to our seasonal and weather patterns?

Earthenware planters lie fractured after last weeks freezing temperatures. Geraniums droop, beaten by the sharp snap, their stems having expanded to breaking point.  It will be an interesting few days as America's blizzard ventures out over the Atlantic.  Fearless of the imminent threat, an army of snowdrops is exploding into formation on the bee bank.  Tight aqua clumps, punctuated with brilliant white buds forming an angelic aura hovering just above the tobacco clay.

Just half an hour out in the fresh air wandering along the soggy paths is a healing tonic for the soul, my idea of Paradise.

Glorious Dogwood

Early this morning, in that moment between dreams and wakefulness, I listened to an artist's ode to the glory of winter dogwood.

He lamented that a palette of ochre, sienna and cobalt can easily become muddied at this time of year.  However, this is the dogwood's moment, pared back to her bark, she creates a symphony of colour: blood-orange, acid-lime and sherbet-lemon.  The winter sun casts her light playfully, creating an explosion of colour.  Seeing how this palette lifts the spirit in a natural setting, I am inspired to experiment with these bold,vibrant shades at home.

Midwinter Rose

Our bizarre weather patterns are encouraging unseasonal visitors to the garden this January.

This delicate pheasant rose usually festoons twelve foot runners in July, racing down the bank and tumbling onto the flagstones.  So imagine our surprise to see her swaying like a lantern over the emerging snowdrops!

Sarcococca ruscifolia - 'Dragon Gate'

Water diamonds sparkle in the winter sun, last night's star strewn skies having created the perfect conditions for our friend, Jack Frost.

Thanks to Prof Brian Cox, we spotted Orion's Belt and The Plough in the midnight sky before snuggling down under the duvet.  It was whilst we slept that Jack set the garden in frost.

This morning, iced air is a stimulant on the in breath.  Sarcococca's intoxicating scent hovers over the steps, its delicacy seducing the senses,  stopping me in my tracks.  Beautiful amongst the snowdrops and hellebores this unassuming shrub, commonly known as  Butcher's Broom, is deserving of its place in the border.  Varnished, olive leaves support explosions of tiny white flowers; elegant and understated.  Our hot tip for this week is to seek out this charming, unassuming plant for you garden, I promise you that Sarcococca will not disappoint!

Jack Frost

  Jack's late arrival is a cause for celebration, I had wondered where he'd been hiding.  At last the soil is crunchy like well baked apple crumble.  The cloying clay finally crisp, ready to shatter, allowing nature's magic to spring clean the russet soil that supports and feeds our flower family.

Wrapped up against the biting wind, Vulcan and I marched through the woods this morning, the ground now solid underfoot, black mud runs replaced by solid ruts.  Sunlight feeds the soul and lifts the spirit.  Vulcan mirrored my joy, his expressive tail twirling at each fresh scent sensation amongst the decaying bracken.  His presence is calm and reassuring in an uncertain world, his love constant and unconditional.  Today, natures beauty is abundant, a sensory feast for us all, if only we take a moment to stop and stare.

Pull up a Chair...

January skies; clear, bright, defined.  Finally some time to pull up a chair in front of the fire and contemplate the season ahead...

Outside, snowdrops are forging their way through the sodden clay soil in a bid to join the hellebores.  Plans to reinforce the bee path are on hold, balmy temperatures are tempting our winged foragers to venture out of the hive when they should be sleeping.  A worrying trend; they are tiring now having missed a cold snap for hibernation.  Without doubt, they are confused and a little snappy like school children at the end of term!  Chilly days are forecast, which is welcome news for the January gardener, for this is the month for structural maintenance, whilst the flora and fauna are sleeping.

Hello Hellebores

Handsome purple parasols are decorating the tobacco soil early this year, thanks to our  unseasonably clement weather.  Low enough to avoid 'Storm Frank's' hearty gusts,  the moist woodland now hosts the garden's corps de ballet,  perennials performing the prologue to our garden year.

Cool hues of purple are an oasis of calm in the blue January light; crisp, clear and strong.   Opinion is divided on these robust winter treasures.  Here at VGP they grow and multiply with ease, their roots securely watered and tethered in the heavy clay soil, protected from the westerly winds by the ancient hillside.  Hellebores provide shading in the artist's winter palette, pools of cool amongst the stark silhouettes of the resting shrubs and trees.

Sammy Squirrel

A spokesman from the Wildlife Trust announced this morning that the nation's Sammy Squirrels are rather overweight, having over indulged on our Christmas scraps; what a gorgeous vision.  However, far from restricting the food that these stealthy thieves so expertly purloin from their feathered friends,  he advises that we should continue to provide for all wildlife as Jack Frost may arrive on the scene at any moment.  Oh the drama of it all...

Our lives are so closely entwined with the animal and plantlike that surround and support us, at times so stoically present that we simply pass-by without a backward glance.  Magnificent, technicolor stories, play out right under our feet. I for one pledge to take some time today to really stop and look at this glorious moment in time, on a rainy January day.

Rainbows

What a magical gift this morning, the arc of a rainbow framing the view!
Vibrant colours in soft focus lift the spirit with a simple upward glance, magical...

Our heavy clay soil is sodden, the moisture rich air sends a shiver through to my toes as I take stock of the New Year garden. Winter colour punctuates the landscape; golden Hamamelis with its spicy scent and spidery petals adds a glow behind the fiery orange and red stems of Cornus 'Midwinter Fire'.  This is when the beauty of structural planting comes to the fore, skeletal forms add grace and drama to the prologue of 2016.  Nature's promise for the year ahead is mesmerising.

New Year Honours

This morning forging across the biting sand, leaning into the arms of hurricane 'Frank' is exhilarating; blood pumps, skin glows as pure ozone oxygenates my system as well as any New Year's gym session!  How wonderful to feel the touch of the natural world; living landscapes nourish our physical, mental and spiritual health.

But what of our tiny feathered friends who have to navigate these turbulent airways for survival in search of food, water and shelter?  Casualties punctuate the flotsam and jetsam ribboning the spongy, quilted shoreline.  Sad victims of perilous weather fronts, their beautiful feathers matted and broken... How can I begin to make a difference?  Little steps mark all new beginnings; today I will don my chef's hat, sort through the fridge and share the remains of our seasonal fayre with our brave, little aviators seeking solace in the garden.

Frank's in Town

Happy New Year from 'Valley Garden Paradise'.  May 2016 bring you a wealth of health, peace and happiness.

Nature's abundance is a daily source of wonder, evening's inky canopy swooshes across the landscape like velvet stage curtains signifying a momentary break between Acts.
Hurricane Frank has been in Town for the festive season, and wow what a performance; Mr Sinatra would have raised his bourbon for sure.  Gusting force eight inland from the Atlantic, Frank's choreography is a joy to behold.  At his whim the sand performs a diverse programme of salsa mingled with boogie-woogie,  then slowing unexpectedly to a graceful waltz across the rocks and roof tops.  Yes, hurricane Frank has earned his place up there with the greats, blowing out the old, heralding the new with gay abandon.

Welcome to Valley Garden Paradise, please hop on to our blog and join us for "Nature's Wonders 2016'.

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