Time To Get Winter Ready...
As I write it’s raining cats and dogs here….and that got me thinking about the Winter Garden.
The first frosts have already arrived in not so sunny Northamptonshire and the summer planters have had their day. It’s all starting to look a little tired and done out on the patio so Ken and I know our job for the weekend is to start clearing them out and planting up the Winter displays.
It can be quite a sad moment when the petunias, busy lizzies and calibrachoa run out of steam but on the upside it means we can create a whole new look out there. Winter doesn’t have to mean a dreary patio and front doorstep. It can be a fresh new start with just as much zing going on – it just needs a bit of thought!
We love to plant our hanging baskets with Violas which will flower their socks off right through the Autumn, Winter and Spring, often into Summer too! This year we will be planting ‘Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow’ in those baskets, not only do they give a full six months of colour but that colour changes all the time. These beauties turn from white to light blue to darker blue which means that each time we look out of the window there is a whole new view to admire.
Another Winter favourite of ours are Primroses – we love them all, from the delicate pastel shades to the bright and bold, we will find a space for them all! This year we’ve decided that ‘Antique Silver Shadow’ will take centre stage on the patio – the unique blooms are pale silver violet with a deep pink centre and yellow eye, so pretty. These will be going in a pot along with some Narcissus Tete Boucle – Kens favourite daff, he plants it everywhere!
The last job, before a well-earned cup of tea and slice of cake, will be brightening up the door stop with pots for of Primrose Flamenco Fire The beautiful double blooms are a striking orange edged with gold and will be a bright and cheery way to greet visitors over the winter. I suspect there will be a few Tulip Gudoshnik sneaking into the pots too, just to make sure those planters create a real wow!
So I guess this rain has done me a favour – we’ve got it all planned and it’s been a lovely distraction from the weather, thinking about how beautiful it’s all going to be.
Happy gardening,
Louise x