The year, thankfully, ended with two days spent in the garden. We have had few such days over the past weeks and it was great to be out again – despite the cold, wet and muck.
Mary had the very good idea to put a path at the back of a particularly deep border in the garden, the hydrangea bed. This border backs on to another border which runs alongside the drive into the house and between them there is a depth of six to eight metres. There is a narrow paved path parallel to the drive which give convenient access to the back of that border but this leaves a considerable depth across the hydrangea bed which is inaccessible – though to be honest not regularly in need of access as the hydrangeas require little maintenance more than a day in spring to deadhead and prune.


The pathway is now nearly complete, completion was delayed as one hydrangea needed to be moved and we waited until the dormant season to do this – and I’ll do it the next day we are working in the garden. Of more benefit than simple access, this pathway will give a length of planting opportunities to either side for spring interest. Mary has suggested snowdrops and that would suit me perfectly as I am constantly seeking new spots to add snowdrops and special or new ones are best to the side of a footpath where they can be observed with ease. I have already planted two snowdrops and will add more as they come along.
Now, after that long aside, I’ll come back to today’s title which is to mark the end of the year, the penultimate and final day of 2020. Yesterday, I went around snapping the plants in flower and, today, we had a frosty morning which always draws the camera though it was quite dull earlier and frost never looks as well as when the sun shines and the sky is blue – it is the contrast, I suppose, of cold conditions with bright light. The photographs are in three albums – flowers, early morning and later morning, when it was brighter.
Best wishes to all for the New Year.
Yesterday’s photographs of what’s in flower at the moment in the garden:
Early this morning, frosty and still not quite bright:
A little later, frost with sunshine, but this didn’t last and most of the day was overcast, misty and dull.
A magnificent garden. The path is a genuine achievement for 2020. We could do with some.
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Really beautiful photos! The frost adds a new dimension to the photos, and as you say, looks even better with sunlight. Your garden is looking amazing despite it being the middle of winter. I’m looking forward to seeing the new plantings along the new access path. Wishing you and your wife a very Happy New Year and lots of great gardening opportunities and adventures!
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Best wishes to you and yours for the New Year.
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It’s looking lovely, still no frost for us in Brussels. Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year, Sel!
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The stones that line the new path–are they all from your property? I haven’t thought of your soil as rocky.
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They are all field stones, Kathy, brought up by the plough.
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I heartily approve the new path particularly the planting opportunity! Happy New Year to you and Mary and hoping we will have the opportunity to meet in 2021!
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Best wishes, Hazel. The weather has allowed us into the garden in the last few days so it has been great. I hope it lasts for another while.
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Your garden is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing. All the best to you and your family for 2021!
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And to you, Cathy. We had a good start to the New Year – a morning in the garden, though it was a bit wet and mucky at what I was doing but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Thank you for the great photos cocooned in my small Town house and garden they are magic
Happy New year to you
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We are very much in the cocoon as well, Paulene, and I think we’ll be here for a long while yet. Best wishes for 2021!
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The frost does add a nice touch to the garden, and really accentuates the lines and structure. I don’t think it will be long at all before the hydrangeas are surrounded by many more snowdrops, and thats a very good thing.
All the best for the New Year!
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We have such a frosty morning again at the moment and, yes, snowdrops will be added gradually – I have plans to move two small clumps as soon as possible as they are being overcrowded by herbaceous plants elsewhere.
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