January

Welcome 2024. After quite a mild but wet Christmas it has now turned more seasonably cold, very cold today, 0 degrees this morning but has crept up to 3.5 now at 3pm.

So wet in December, we had 60.09mm of rain in December 2023, in 2022 just 24.11mm and in 2021 16.51mm. There was even more in December 2020 with 60.69mm.

Remember the very cold winter of 2022? We lost most of our Aeoniums, as did many other people, despite being in a bubble wrapped greenhouse where they had happily spent many previous winters.

This year I have brought the remaining ones inside, so all the window sills are full!

Aeoniums overwintering inside the house

We have also taken precautions outside and used fleece and covers to protect some of the plants, that suffered in the cold last year but manage to perk up during the year. Hopefully this will be sufficient to save them this winter.

Globe artichoke

Ceanothus

It may be cold outside but cheering colour sign is here already! The snowdrops are bright white in the grey days.

                                                                    Mrs McNamara

                                                            Bright pink Cyclamen coum