Here come the Hellebores.

So intent was I on viewing the bulbs popping through the soil that I had missed my other jewels in the ground. The Hellebores have quietly and without fuss opened up & are beautiful to see. In February's 'Country Living' magazine there is an interesting article on breeding  outward-facing hellebores. One of the grumbles about hellebores is that their somewhat shy appearance (the pendant habit of the blooms means you have to lift the head to see it properly) stops them from being enjoyed as much. I've seen cut hellebore heads floating in a glass bowl of water to appreciate their markings and shape but I have a few in the garden which happily look up and out into the world rather than hiding their faces. There was a question on Gardener's Question Time this week about black spot on hellebores and they advised cutting down all the affected growth in November but that really it was  better to dig them out and start again with fresh stock. The Country Living article recommends growing hellebores in pots but ensuring they are feed twice as much as those grown in the ground.It states, "Grown in the ground they do well in full sun in a clay soil, but in lighter soil partial shade is better - too much shade, thought, and they won't flower well.
I'm of the opinion in some way that I was better not to research everything before I started growing anything  because I would have been too concerned to let my creative side just go with it. Now of course, it's too late - I am hooked on gardening. It's only now, as I go along, that I have learnt to do things properly. Most things will do their best to survive though so don't be afraid to try anything.
Alongside my dark beauties, purple-black heads in clusters which seemed to have sprung up overnight I also have Bradfield Green with red dots but I'm cosseting and absolutely adore Bradfield purple/black. I shan't be buying it though, I've a holiday to save up for and I know that come May I will be able to resist buying plants no longer and shall be tempted to purchase more foxgloves.

Some photos from the old garden.

Enough of the flowers. here are the chickens coming to investigate what I have for them.

Seriously, more snow on it's way?

Having just read that there is more snow on it's way next week, although fortunately not in Wales I wonder if the children will be digging out their sledges again just in time for their half term holidays. We'll need to ensure the birds are still well fed (they are currently eating their way through two bird feeders' full of nuts a day). I've been working long hours at work so don't get to see much of the garden right now but in a way that's quite interesting because I see the difference when I walk around it. The new buds on the rose bushes are looking healthy and it's just a matter of weeks before the green tips of spring bulbs will frame a gorgeous flowerhead; it's such an exicting time, just knowing what is around the corner. By April we should be enjoying blossom and primulas again (these pics are from my old garden)

Everything's coming up roses.

Well, by that all I mean is that there are many dots of dark green shoots poking through the long border. The solitary snowdrop has been joined by several others of varying sizes and there are chunkier bulbs pushing though. Although we've had plenty of rain promised for this week I have managed to get out today and take off any rose leaves with signs of black spot, as mentioned on Gardener's Question Time this afternoon. They said it could be done but probably only by people who had nothing better to do with their lives! What a cheek. Well, as there isn't much more I can do in the garden right now it's no hardship to de-leaf the roses and as always, the work done early on will pay dividends later in the season.

Yesterday, whilst I was at work, Luke noticed a dark shape near the deck and looked out to see a brazen Sparrowhawk on the bird bath! Before he could grab his camera there was a whoosh and it was gone.
I may have missed the Sparrowhawk but we both got to check out the Buzzard in the oak tree behind our garden. Here he is.