GARDENER'S WORD

Yesterday, Saturday 15 December 2018, was perishing.  It was sub-zero out there, and a weather warning of freezing rain was announced as being treacherous (I thought freezing rain was hail or snow!  Aparently not.) and there was even some snow on the ground when I looked outside, early evening.  Today, this morning, got up, blinds up, and there it was - glorious sunshine, blue sky, only a slight nip in the air.  I thought for a minute I had slept long and woken up in spring.  I decided to take advantage of the lovely day and so I went over to a nearby mall for a coffee and a mooch around.  Santa was there, with his little helpers.  Actually, they were collecting for the lonely elderly at Christmas, for a special dinner for them, so I slipped a little something into Santa's stocking! Santa and his charitable helpers. Had to smile at the reindeer with a goat-skin rug on its back!   Santa obliged me with a cheery wave.  Although it was...

I think I must create a similar post every winter, encouraging people to feed wild birds to get them through the worst of it. For me, the birds are worth every penny because they are great entertainment.  Of course, word has got around and now they consider me the 24/7 restaurant.   Fat balls for the birds Even though temperatures are not terribly low right now, and no snow has yet arrived, it won't be long.  Every year I make homemade fat balls for the birds for two reasons: firstly because I know that the ones I make are not bulked up with rubbish stuff that looks like sawdust and which doesn't do the birds much good, and secondly because it is cheaper than buying the top quality fat balls.  And anyway, I like to see them eat what I have made.  They do fight over them though!  So I make plenty and I freeze them.  Never put out fat balls in summer or during warm weather when the fat can go rancid. 

There is so much worry over climate change and global warming but, on the bright side, my garden still has a lot more flowers than I expect at this time of year.  I noticed today that the little Hebe 'Purple Pixie' is sporting a lovely topping of purple flowers when, I think, really, it should be going to sleep. I don't prune it before winter as the top growth protects the roots from suffering too much in sub zero temperatures; I prune it in early spring.  It's in quite a sheltered position, protected from the savage winds we get here on the Pennine Mountains of West Yorkshire (even when the Met Office predicts that there will be a moderate breeze).  Not only that, but some of the penstemons are still flowering too. Again, same story, I don't prune them until early spring.   Oh, and there are plenty of flowers still on the bacopa hanging baskets. I thought they were supposed to be tender, and we have had some pretty chilly nights.  And ...