Readers’ gardens
Afew sharp frosts had me scurrying to move the tender plants into the greenhouse. The standard fuchsias have been defoliated and trimmed back and the horticultural fleece is at the ready if colder temperatures are forecast.
The small acer in the front garden seemed very keen to hang on to its leaves and treated us to a longer than usual autumn display, but now that bare stems abound, it’s the turn of our evergreens to shine. A trim of the two hollies, (‘Golden King’ and ‘Silver Queen’) planted years ago to shelter us from the main road, has revealed that rounded shape that I find very appealing.
The small ‘hedge’ of alpine strawberries at the back of the garage continued to fruit and flower late and a frosty, early walk to the garage was rewarded with a few tangy fruits. The ‘Mara de Bois’ strawberries in the greenhouse are also still in flower, so a festive strawberry or two is on the cards!
All the summer bedding was cleared and the small border at the front, planted with violas in between the silver Cineraria maritima that are used as dot plants, was tidied. The oversummered mini cyclamen on the kitchen windowsill look fantastic. I normally complement these with a small poinsettia, but although the one from last year has coloured nicely, it’s too big for the space!
The winter arrangement on the patio has been added to with the ‘golden hedgehog’ holly ( Ilex aquifolium ‘Ferox Aurea’). I’ve been growing it over the last few years as a small standard, as the ‘head’ is filling up so well I think it deserves a Christmas present. A red bow on the stem looks great this festive season.
Last year, my daughter decided that a wooden reindeer, made from logs, would be a suitable project to keep me from being idle! This year’s task was wooden snowmen, all finished off with real coal for the buttons!