We have a tall beech hedge down one side of our garden, it’s probably about 40′ long as it continues down the side of the garage and the carport. It was well overdue for a trim, in fact it was decidedly overgrown. It had got to be too big a job for my OH too, particularly as I wanted the side taking back a good 18″ too.
Well today it had a trim, we paid for a couple of tree surgeons to come and sort it, it looks so much better! It isn’t perfect on top but when you take a hedge back about 6′ you have to give it a bit of time to recover and look beautiful again! Hopefully now we can keep on top of it.
Any flower that blooms in January gets lots of respect from me, choosing to stick it’s head above the parapet with the cold, wet and windy weather! Our mahonia has been flowering for most of January, my OH has a love hate relatinship with this shrub as it’s on the edge of the drive, just where he gets into the car, so he regularly gets prickled!
I also noticed a primula braving the weather in the Amethyst and Amber garden, it looks a little tetty round the edges but at least it’s trying.
The snowdrops are just starting to come into flower up near the pond, they look so delicate.
Top plant award in my garden at this time of year has to go to the hellebores. I’ve got quite a few now, all different colours and they’re just starting to put on a show. I bought this one last year in Morecambe – my friend and I supposedly set off for a walk up a local mountain, changed our mind and went to the seaside instead, coming home with plants and fabric – my OH looked very confused! The flowers start off this colour and then turn a sort of coppery colour.
This purple one is particularly pretty, though they’re quite low flowers…
Round the pond I have double white ones and these prickly ones whose name I have momentarily forgotten!
I need to get out in the garden and start tidying up the perennials, cutting back old growth and damaged branches, get a head start on the weeds too!
thecraftycreek 
Your hedge does look better for its appointment with the tree surgeons, sometimes having a bit of help , well really helps. My Manonia is having a really good year and your looks as if it is too. So good to see gardens coming back to life.
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Fun to see your blooms already! I have lots of snow, yet, so no bulbs or blooms to see. 🙂
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Having a clipped hedge will inspire you to tidy the rest of the garden, at least the part around the hedge. Your hellebores are looking good. Mine are still all buds. I need to get out and look at them after the sunny day we had yesterday. Maybe some buds were coaxed into blooms.
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They do vary, my deep red one is still just in bud 🙂
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Enjoyed the visit to your garden this morning – Our hellebores are blooming as well and one of my favorites. Your sweet snowdrops are so lovely too 🙂
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Hello Margaret, love having a wonder around your garden. Your Hellebores are beautiful. The hedge is looking much better. Enjoy tidying things up in your garden. Regards Mandy xx
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Thank you for the garden update! I love primulas and looked sadly at your photo. I hope it starts doing better and has company. They don’t do well down here as the Southern U.S. is too hot in winter for them. I recently saw lovely Hellebores for sale, but didn’t purchase as I’ve nowhere to plant them. They probably wouldn’t do for house plants, would they?
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Hi Del, I don’t think they’d be happy in doors, in that they flower in the cold.
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Ah. Thank you!
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That was a lovely meander!
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That sounds like my sort of walk plants, fabric and probably some tea. Your hellebores are gorgeous
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We did manage a bit of a walk – on the beach 🙂 I do like hellebores!
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