Happy New Year
My loathing of fake plants is well documented on this blog, but I’ll make an exception for this wreath of artificial flowers. It’s distinctly un-Christmassy, un-seasonal and, goddamit, un-British. But … Read more
winter interest
Merry Christmas
I love the big, fat topiary in front of this classy-looking house, with its classy-looking wreath. Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you for stopping by in 2012 – I’ll continue to … Read more
Evergreens
In some contexts, evergreen box and ivy – and nothing else – would look a bit uninteresting/unimaginative. But against this very distinctive cream and black tiled background, it looks perfect. … Read more
Spindle tree
I was feeling a little overworked and overwrought the other day, so I thought I’d go for a stomp around Regent’s Park and feel the calming effects of some green … Read more
Winter light
I used to think that January and February were my least favourite months of the year, but I’m now awarding that dubious accolade to November and December. All of a … Read more
Hellebores and silver birch
I’ve seen silver birches underplanted with all kinds of things – snowdrops, anemones, cyclamen, bluebells etc – but never hellebores for some reason. The combination works so well – the … Read more
Let them eat cake
A friend of mine once spent some time at a monastery in southern France where the monks lived in silence. They were allowed to speak when it was their turn … Read more