The 'Delargo Towers' Garden -February

February is the cruellest of months and this year it was particularly true. 

Wet windy with - 5'c frosts But we still had colour.

We have three new Iris reticulata this year, 'Harmony' is the first to flower.

Crocuses have started to open

Our cyclamen neapolitanum is spreading nicely and put on a jolly show all month

Snow drops were a joy too.

The stocks we sowed last Summer bolted. 

They have come through all the frosts buds and all.

It looks like a lot of the fuchsias and less hardy plants have come through the winter .

The big post Winter clear up has begun in earnest.

and we have started to reclaim the garden from winters icy grip.

It is already looking a lot better than it did at the start of February.

There is still lots to be done though.

Although it is still rather cold a spot of sunshine is always welcome.

Time to think and plan for the Summer ahead.

Roll on Spring !

ttfn

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The 'Delargo Towers' Garden - January

January must be the bleakest month of the year. We have had more than our fare share of frosts this month here in London, down to all but -6'c (- 5 point 8) reported at our nearest Met Office weather station.

Window boxes with pansies and violas work for us this time of year

The front garden has things hanging on by their finger nails and for the promise of Spring, while out the back we have cyclamen and snow drops in bud - but I have not taken a single photo this month of our main garden, which must tell the tale.

The front garden. Normally there are four large wheelie bins on that hard stand so most of the time we don't get chance to do much gardening or even able to see a garden here.

If it wasn't for the bins it would catch the early morning sun as you can see.

The wallflowers will smell fab even if we can't see them.

There will be daffs too.

Indoors - and following on from the gargantuan hippeastrum in last month's post - we now have "Apple Blossom" in flower, which we think rather small but is actually a more normal size and rather lovely.

Most of our seedlings are doing well, and with the lengthening of daylight we will start sowing in earnest next month and then right up to Spring and beyond.

Please pop by and take some in May or June; gawd knows what we are going to do with them all by then!

Till next month then, me lovelies.

ttfn

The 'Delargo Towers' Garden - December

Here we are again me dears at the end of another Month and another Year.

December has given us some nasty frosts but most of the Half hardies seem to be hanging on. 

Our fingers are crossed that they fare as well next year come January and February.

The ivy leaf pelargonium is still flowering in the window box.

They have now been joined by viola Morpho and jolly yellow pansies.

The borders are looking a bit bleak and will of course will soon be looking a lot worse.

Our refugee centre.

We do still have some colour though -

We treated ourselves to the most enormous hippeastrum bulb on our visit the the last rhs show.

It is a thing of wonder !

Three flower stems -

and each flower as big as ones head.

Pure joy

Even the peace lilly has given us a bonus bloom this month.

Heading into 2017 the seedlings planted last October are looking good.

Orlaya grandiflora
Ammi majus
Consolida regalis
Canna indica, Red

 
Crambe cordifolia

and
Catananche

Happy new year me dears.

and

Happy gardening !

ttfn