Clematis Cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ resplendent on the arch today, as reliable as my old Grandmother’s clock. Gets virtually no attention all year, never watered or fed, often clothed in perennial sweet peas (Lathyrus latifolia) and a climbing rose in summer but shrugs them off to prepare for her wonderful display in December and January each year. One of the best.

Narcissus ‘Spring Dawn’, one of the earliest daffodils, was in flower on New Year’s Day and is utterly reliable to cheer you up even on the darkest days of winter. It is a harbinger of Spring and better days to come.

A rather bedraggled Erysimum ‘Parrish’s’ which persists even in the depths of winter as if on a mission. It’s flowers seem darker at this time of year, the brick red and pink not appearing frequently until early summer. This variety is one which can be cut back hard in Spring and will sprout new shoots from the old wood, unlike ‘Bowles Mauve’ and others in the same family. This cultivar along with it’s cousin, ‘Apricot Twist’, are probably the two best perennial wallflowers in my garden for longevity and flower power. Easy to propagate from cuttings too.

Not my picture, but a borrowed image of Tradescantia ohiensis ‘Mrs Loewer’, a member of the Andersoniana Group of Tradescantias but distinctly different foliage to most others. Just acquired from Beth Chatto nursery in Essex who is probably the only supplier of this particular hybrid in the UK. Looking forward to becoming the other supplier soon!

My trail camera discovered who has been leaving me a little ‘present’ on the path every morning recently. We are fortunate to have a lot of wildlife literally on the doorstep where we live and we often see and hear foxes, deer, owls and bats as well as the occasional badger but I do wish they would leave their toilet habits away from my precious plants!

And, while we are on the subject of wildlife, what on earth chews and eats plastic plant labels?! My money is on a rat because I know from bitter experience that their smaller cousins love plastic bottle tops and wiring!

Have a great weekend

David