I have not posted since last October when I ran out of subjects in my tiny garden however there are now signs of spring and, with rising temperatures and dry weather forecast for next week, I remain hopeful. Although it may be a few more weeks before I can post again I have managed to scrape together a rather contrived six for this week.
Slight problem with the header, I must have decided I was having my own leap year! Too late to change it now.
A real favourite of mine, particularly as it’s such an early flowerer. Unfortunately this one is almost all that is left of a clump I planted about five years ago, time to renew!
I am not a great fan of grasses, although I can appreciate them planted in drifts. I raised Anemanthele lessoniana (syn. Stipa arundinacea) Pheasant’s tail grass, from seed many years ago and had three large containers of it in my previous garden which were spectacular when viewed with the sun behind them. This is a recent acquisition which I hope thrives. Incidently I never cut them back just “combed” them, wearing a stout pair of gloves, in the late spring.
This leaf caught my attention, unfortunately when I tried to reposition it to get a decent photo I snapped it off! I am guessing at its nomenclature but I think I am correct.
The osmanthus is growing in a large container next to the door into the garden so I am hoping there are some warm days when it does flower so I can fully appreciate the scent.
I know snowdrops are everywhere but I just thought they would make up the numbers. I have no idea where the shell in the background came from!
Not everyone’s cup of tea and actually the first time I have grown it, Fatsia japonica just happened to fulfil a purpose and is currently in a container. The thing I did like was to have some healthy green leaves to look at during the grey winter months.
This meme is hosted by Jim Stevens who is to be found with all the details and links to plenty of other blogs to enjoy at Garden Ruminations.
A Plantsman's World 
Your Osmanthus looks like it will be a show when it flowers. I noticed flower buds on mine yesterday – although not as many as yours. I think I may have pruned mine a little late last year.
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For various reasons mine has been left to do its own thing for the last couple of years, other than a brief tidy. This year it will be pruned back after it flowers.
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I keep forgetting about osmanthus and its wonderful fragrance, thanks for the reminder. I’ve not seen the purple ivy before, really interesting. Have a good week. 🙂
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Thank you, the shrub I miss most from my old garden is Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’, if we were lucky and had a warm day the scent was stunning.
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Oh yes, another lovely!
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Welcome back, I think your Fatsia is lovely, giving a good green and even exotic look to your garden during the winter. Thanks too for the suggestion about combing through the grasses, I shall try that.
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Thank you, the fatsia is amazingly hardy despite its tropical look. I took one down for a friend that was the size of a small tree.
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Welcome back ! I actually noticed the fatsia in photo 1 in the background, is it in a pot? It might grow more in the ground… Here mine reaches 2 m tall now. Nice iris too !
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Thank you, the fatsia is in a pot and was used as a filler and I am stuck for somewhere suitable to plant it. As I mentioned above, I cut one down for a friend that was the size of a small tree!
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