Winter is here!

Clare
Dec 6, 2020
3 min read

The weather has had a really icy feel this week and snow has been forecast. However, it has led to some beautiful sunsets:

The garden can seem so barren during the winter months when the trees have lost their leaves and there are few remaining flowers. However, closer inspection reveals that much is still happening beneath the surface. As I wandered around the garden this morning, I suddenly became aware of the large number of leaf and flower buds that are already covering the trees and shrubs, ready to burst open in late Winter and early Spring. Buds are nature's way of being ready to take full advantage of the oncoming warmer weather, once the extremes of Winter have passed. They are also a promise of things to come and a reminder that life goes on. I particularly like the furry jackets that cover the magnolia buds, protecting them from the cold, and the festive red buds of the Skimmia japonica.

Some plants are also still in full flower. For example, our purple hebe is displaying a late flourish and the yellow of the winter jasmine is brightening an otherwise dull corner of the garden. The delicate pink, star-like flowers of the Daphne odora are also still looking particularly lovely and I always stop to smell them as I walk past. The genus Daphne is possibly so-called due to the resemblance of its leaves to those of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), which was also known as "Daphne" in ancient Greece . In Greek and Roman legend, Daphne was a nymph who rejected the lusty advances of the god Apollo. Some variants of the story tell how Daphne was transformed into a bay laurel tree by Gaia (mother earth) in an attempt to escape Apollo's pursuit.

There are also still pops of colour from a few late bloomers, and some lovely winter berries:

The insects in the garden are quiet, though glistening webs hint at the activity of hungry spiders and the birds that remain are constantly on the look-out for food.

I am ashamed to admit that my own work in the garden and allotment has been non-existent this week, though I am aware there are still many jobs that need to be done. I promised myself I would do better next week as I stepped back into the warmth of the cottage this morning!

If (like me) you are finding it hard to drag yourself out into the cold at the moment, BBC Wildlife Magazine and Kew Gardens lists some of the wildlife you can look out for in your gardens this month, whilst The Guardian suggests some of the best places to view winter wildlife in the U.K. if you are fortunate enough to live in the vicinity:

British wildlife in December | BBC Wildlife Magazine - Discover Wildlife

Winter wildlife in your garden | Kew

The best places to spot UK wildlife in winter | Wildlife holidays | The Guardian

Alternatively, if you are looking for a way to entertain the children inside, making salt dough decorations is a fun way to make your own Christmas tree ornaments. The recipe is simple - 1/2 cup plain flour + 1/4 cup water + 1/4 cup salt (scaled up or down as desired). Mix the flour and salt together and then add enough water to make a dough. Roll out and use cookie cutters to shape the decorations (3-D models can also be made if preferred, though these will take longer to fully dry). Place on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at its lowest setting. After about three hours, the dough will have dried fully and can be painted. NB If you are making decorations to hang on a Christmas tree, make sure you add a hole to your decorations before drying!