Christmas Berries, Buds & First Snow

Published on by Catherine

Six on Saturday

It’s almost the end of 2023 – it seems to have arrived so quickly! For my final Six on Saturday of 2023, I have five topics and ten photos, and I know that’s a slight deviation from the normal requirements, but I hope our host, Jim won’t object!

Frosted Cotoneaster Horizontalis

The one plant in my garden that takes on the most Christmassy appearance is the Cotoneaster. Those bright red berries and tiny leaves coated in white wouldn’t look out of place as a decoration on top of a Christmas cake, but the frost would melt away as soon as it reached the kitchen, wouldn’t it!  I’ll leave it where it is. 😁

Cotoneaster trimmed with frost

Frost-dusted Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’

This Skimmia isn’t generally the most colourful plant in the border, but on this particular morning, as the rays of the sun skimmed over it, the leaves, stems and flower buds glowed.

Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
The sun quickly melts the frost on Skimmia Rubella

Snow

Late at night on November 30th, the snow started to fall. I messaged my nearby family, wondering if they were still up. They were, they’d spotted the snow and had wakened their two children to let them see it, just in case it was gone my morning. We don’t get a lot of snow here on the coast so tend to get a bit over-excited about it!. Did you ever wake your children to see the snow at night? I did. 😁

Early that following morning this little family of four were having a fantastic time in the local playing fields. You remember how it was…you’re out there having such fun until your hands and feet hurt so much you have to reluctantly head indoors. Although it wasn’t a hugely deep fall, it did hang around for days, and as nights were well below zero, it froze, turning our street into an ice rink.

Morning light filtering into the garden

Skimmia japonica

I visited the garden centre this week to buy horticultural grit and found this little Skimmia japonica patiently waiting for a buyer. Of course, it went home with me. It’s not the best-looking specimen but it has new growth and I’m sure, with a little bit of attention, it will grow well. For many years a Skimmia japonica shrub grew in my garden, but eventually, as it outgrew its space it had to be removed. I’ve always missed the red berries and little white flowers that open in April. This one has a lot of growing to do.

The new purchase is a bit scrawny and needs some TLC
Berries on the old, more mature plant, with flower stems starting to emerge
The previous plant in early spring, with flower buds clearly visible
In April the flowers open, and the shrub is complete

Camellia buds

Finally, despite the awful wind and rain we’re currently having here, buds are forming on shrubs around the garden. Is it really time for us to look forward to spring? Yes, I do believe my thoughts are beginning to turn towards the fun of online garden shopping.

Camellia buds

Jim, of Garden Ruminations, is our host for Six on Saturday, so be sure to visit his blog, and meet up with other contributors from far and wide.

All that remains for me to do now, is to wish you the merriest Christmas ever! And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, have a wonderful holiday season!

I won’t be posting on the blog next week, but I hope you will find joy, peace and love to enrich your lives in the year ahead. If you find some of these feelings by working in your garden and watching your plants grow and bloom then you’ve found something special. Hold onto it.

Best wishes to you all for 2024! 

Catherine x

Credit: signpost illustration Adobe Stock-Alyona

20 thoughts on “Christmas Berries, Buds & First Snow”

  1. Merry Christmas to you and yours too. It’s been good to have your blogs to read again this year. Great photos as always – that Skimmia was a real show in April. There’s definitely something magical about snow falling at night – and the way it lights up the dark.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Graeme, I’m hoping there won’t be many/any interruptions to the flow of blog posts in the coming year. I’m trying to get into the way of doing a weekday post too, though winter topics are more of a challenge.
      Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻

      Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s always encouraging to find new growth and buds in the garden, I’ll be exploring more, but not until after this awful spell of high winds and heavy rain moves out of the way!
      Have a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for 2024! 🎄

      Like

    1. Thank you, Fred. We’re not going to have a white Christmas here either. It’s 11C at the moment, dark, wild & wet! But whatever the weather throws at you, have a wonderful Christmas! 🎄

      Liked by 1 person

  7. It has been wonderful to see you blogging again, you have such a lovely garden and your photos are always exquisite. Enjoy your Christmas Catherine and let’s hope for a much more peaceful 2024 in the world. I am already eyeing up the spring bulbs poking through the soil and wondering when the first ones will open.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Jude. I’m hoping to be able to continue next year without any interruptions – other than holidays of course!
      I think your spring bulbs should hold off until they’re able to display themselves in some very good weather! I haven’t yet managed to plant all my tulip bulbs. 😐 Best wishes for the New Year.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Your November snow and your frost were lovely. We have no snow here and we’re quite warm (10C+) for the holidays here in the Upper Midwest U.S. I must hunt around for signs of new growth before true winter sets in. Happy Holidays!

    Like

    1. Thank you Beth, you’re very kind. We’re now having rain and more rain – if it ever stops, I’ll be out hunting for new growth too!
      Enjoy your Holiday season and best wishes for 2024!

      Like

    1. I think you’re right – often it’s just a case of repotting or getting it into the right spot in a border. This one will be repotted until I find the best place for it. Best Wishes for 2024!!

      Like

Comments are closed.