This is my least favourite day of the year – the day when the clocks have gone back. But for the time being at least, my garden still thinks it’s summer. Penstemons, phlox, Geranium ‘Patricia’ and verbascums are all going strong, along with the old stalwarts, Erysimum Bowles’s Mauve, Verbena bonariensis and Gaura lindheimeri. Further down the garden, dahlias, marigolds, rudbeckias and cosmos are oblivious to the season. Frosts are on their way, though, so I’m making the most of every flower and leaf.
Below is a shot of the same border in March. The clocks had just gone forward, and all the fences had blown down in a gale. Many of the perennials and bulbs planted the previous autumn were refusing to appear and I was beginning to think that nothing was going to grow. So in the dark days of winter, when the garden is stubbornly dormant, I’ll console myself that it will look lovely again.
I’m with you on the misery of the clocks going back, but I must say your blooming border is looking gorgeous and a lovely image to snuggle up with over the winter. Dreaming of spring already…
Thanks Naomi! What’s not shown in that pic is the Rubus that you gave me, which has romped away. x
It’s an amazing transformation and photos like this will cheer you up in the dark days! I regularly look back at photos to remind myself about progress made when it all seems insurmountable. You quickly forget what areas looked like before they were planted, etc. Your border is looking beautiful.
I heard a tip once: take the ‘before’ shot on the dullest, most wintery day, and the ‘after’ shot on a sunny summer one! But yes, it’s really important to take photos – will definitely take more in future!
Your border does look gorgeous. Thank you for sharing that lovely picture We’ve had frost and even some snow already in Vermont, but we won’t turn the clocks back until next Sunday.
Thanks Christie. Snow already?! Wow. Enjoy your extra week of additional daylight : )
What a gorgeous garden! The winter months where nothing grows can be a sad time, but we all have to remember that come springtime, everything will be in bloom and beautiful again. Thank you for sharing your garden with us!
Julie~FurnishMyWay
Thanks Julie! The garden looks very different, one month on 🙁 But I will try to remember that spring is around the corner : )
Luckily we are slowly getting towards Spring now, where the winter blues will vanish and our gardens will bloom! Cannot wait to see what you have planned for this year.
Yes, not long until spring now! I keep meaning to make some plans… must get around to that soon : )