After nine nights of below zero temperatures we’ve had some slightly warmer weather to finish the week with. I’ve managed to get some clearing up done in the borders working from the stepping stones but there’s still a lot to do. Now that the weather is a bit warmer the bulbs will, hopefully, start moving upwards again. I’m still waiting for the first Snowdrop to open.
- A few weeks ago I showed the seed head of Ricinus communis (photo at the top) that was in the glasshouse. We’ve had some sunshine this week and it’s caused the very hard seed cases to split open and expel the shiny black seeds. This can be quite an explosive action and I’ve picked up many seeds from the floor. I’ll wait until it’s a bit warmer before I sow them.

- I overwinter a lot of the succulents in the glasshouse but I think there’s going to be few losses this year, particularly the Aeoniums. Most upsetting. However, others are doing well and Crassula perforata is starting to flower.

The plant in front of it is Crassula humulis.
- Another casualty of the cold is Erysimum variegatum. I had three plants but only one came through Decembers cold but it has taken exception to the last week. There’s some shoots in the centre that haven’t collapsed but, based on the other two plants, I’m not holding out much hope. It’s a plant with a rather straggly habit but, usually, flowers for about eight months of the year.

- On a happier note the Sarcococca is in full flower. It doesn’t seem to be very perfumed this year – lower temperatures maybe?

- Also looking beautiful is Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’, next to Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’, especially against yesterday mornings blue sky.

- I cut off the seed heads of the Hellebores to prevent self seeding and to deter the aphids that seem to be attracted to them. I was a bit late doing this to one of the plants last year and while the parent plant may be on a bit of a go slow the seedlings certainly aren’t.

Hopefully, I’ll have a bit more colour and some bulbs to show next week (I may have said that last week) but I’m sure there will be plenty in other Sixes. They can all be seen courtesy of our brilliant host Jim at http://www.gardenruminations.co.uk
Enjoy the weekend and thank you for reading.