We have had some proper winter here, at last with a smattering of snow and some frost, to add to the usual deluges. The colour has been green and brown with the odd pink hellebore and yellow crocus and witch hazel. It’s a structural month where the trees show all their workings like a maths problem and the beds are laid bare for the early signs of what’s happening below the surface.
The boggy grass and beds has meant we’ve left well alone and some of the jobs will be delayed a little. But there time enough to prepare. Next week, if it’s not too wet, we will prune the apple and cherry and I can continue to relay the edges for the paths that have sunk over the last two years.
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
We’ve no crocuses yet, but we have got snowdrops.
Your garden is looking wonderful, even under all the snow. You have colour in your bushes as well as the flowers. Ans I love the pink hellebore.
Dog looks smart in his coat.
How cheerful! I do like how a little snow seems to highlight things in the landscape. Here we have a base layer of ice (1/2 inch-ish) covered by a couple inches of snow and another layer of ice (not quite so thick) covered by about 3 inches of snow, with a third winter storm bearing down on us. Great fun! I’m actually grateful for the first, thick layer of ice, because it affords some protection for the magnolia buds from the single digit (F) temps. Our dog is *not* happy about having to wear a coat, even though she looks as handsome as Dog does in his. 😉
Most of the US is under snow and ice right now – it’s cold here – ice in the morning but no snow. My garden is full of the run of the mill daffodils. Nothing nearly as exotic as yours!
TanGental 
Pretty! And hopeful!
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Ever hopeful
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Nice to see the first spring flowers make an appearance 🙂
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Hopefully a lot more by the end of the month
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I love those photos showing the contrast of the different seasons – a beautiful garden at any time.
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It is a bit lacking at the moment but it’ll be back by the end of the month
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Sounds perfect.
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Splendid as ever
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Thanks
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Gardens of promise and life! And Dog there to protect and defend!
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I think he detected a fox around the crocuses. His sworn enema
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Crocuses are so exciting! (And of course Dog!)
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They look good together!
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We’ve no crocuses yet, but we have got snowdrops.
Your garden is looking wonderful, even under all the snow. You have colour in your bushes as well as the flowers. Ans I love the pink hellebore.
Dog looks smart in his coat.
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The colour this year has definitely been less than recently, but yes still some lovely spots
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How cheerful! I do like how a little snow seems to highlight things in the landscape. Here we have a base layer of ice (1/2 inch-ish) covered by a couple inches of snow and another layer of ice (not quite so thick) covered by about 3 inches of snow, with a third winter storm bearing down on us. Great fun! I’m actually grateful for the first, thick layer of ice, because it affords some protection for the magnolia buds from the single digit (F) temps. Our dog is *not* happy about having to wear a coat, even though she looks as handsome as Dog does in his. 😉
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He likes his but then he’s getting on a bit! Your ice snow ice layering sounds a challenge!
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Love the pictures – and Dog looks happy no matter what the weather. He seems particularly interested in the croci!
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Fox I believe who he loathes!
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Can’t beat those first signs of spring and the lovely helebores. Which flower down here more during winter.
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We had some yellow hellebores a few years ago but sadly they seem to have disappeared.
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Beautiful, I found the first crocuses in my garden too today. And my willow already has catkins which is too early actually.
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Oh catkins! They take me back to my gran’s
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😊
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I love the snowdrops and crocuses. Dog looks great and as always, steals the show!
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He does doesn’t he. The crocuses have been exceptional this year.
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Dog looks a tad put out. Don’t those Burch logs rot? Love the spring flowers
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They do eventually but they are also great homes for stag beetle larvae so we are prepared to rebuild in due course…
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Yes save the stag beetle.
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Love Dog sniffing the crocuses.
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I think the foxes may have been watering…
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Most of the US is under snow and ice right now – it’s cold here – ice in the morning but no snow. My garden is full of the run of the mill daffodils. Nothing nearly as exotic as yours!
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No daffs yet but give it two weeks…
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Oh! That lovely garden .. ….. And of course Ruby’s hero say no more! 💜💜💜
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It’s amazing how quickly it will perk up…and Dog too.
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Yes Nature is truly grand 💜💜
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So v true
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💜
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Beautiful, Geoff. I can never get enough of your garden.
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Thank you. It should look even better in a couple of weeks now the temperatures are rising. We’re promised 15 – 17C tomorrow!
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Keep the photos coming so those of us in snowy frigid New England can enjoy!
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