The first signs of Spring

The run up to Christmas has been wet and windy offering little opportunity to get out into the garden.  The wind has driven the leaves into heaps in the corners of the garden hiding the fact that snowdrops are already pushing up through the soil.

Even at this, the most dreary time of year, the yellow-green of Jasmine and Bamboo contrast prettily against the brown wooden fence.

 

This Ornamental Kale surprises me by continuing to produce its beautiful purple foliage all through the Winter.

 

 

Camellia buds promise abundant blooms in a few weeks' time.

 

 

 

The Fennel plant has flourished in its shady spot growing to a height of about 2 metres.  In this picture the delicate seed heads are silhouetted against a clear blue December sky.

 

 

 

A particularly savage gust of wind blew one of two matching pots housing two small fir trees over with a crash.  I intend to replace them with very large basic terracotta pots which I will paint with some left over emulsion paint from our sitting room.  As the pots weather through the year they will take on a fresco-like appearance.