I’m joining Cathy from Words & Herbs with her monthly Five Favourites!

While the garden has been fighting against our very cold, wet and windy winter, I’ve been busy with other things. I thought the garden might be ready to make its entrance on the regular meme I take part in – “Six on Saturday” hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations. But the garden isn’t ready and at the moment I’m not quite ready either.

I’ve realised that I’m going to struggle to find 6 worthy subjects each week, and together with the others tasks I’m currently committed to, I thought that maybe I could better fit in with Cathy’s Five Favourites. Perhaps as spring and summer progress I’ll be able to participate in both.

Snowdrops. First up, plain and simple, are the snowdrops. Little clumps here and there, not yet spreading themselves around. But that should come in time. I hope.

Through the winter months garden has been dark, twiggy and moody. It’s still raining, but we’re now getting a few days sunshine here and there – and it’s prompting a few plants back onto the stage.

Hellebore ‘Merlin’. I took a short walk around the back garden a few days ago and found that a few hellebores were looking rather splendid. It was windy so I trusted the forecast and left the camera until the following day. The forecast didn’t warn me of an overnight frost and the poor hellebores were lying with their faces plonked down on the soil. I used a small rusty bow to prop them up and cleaned them as best I could for their all-important photoshoot. Fortunately hellebores recovery fairly quickly from heavy frost and they’re all standing up on their own again.

Euphorbia ‘Miners Merlot’ is colouring up nicely. I’m glad I took it out of its pot last year and moved it to a more woody part of the garden. It settled into its new home quickly and is growing healthily.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. This sedum has been true to its name – an absolute joy. It has held up well throughout the winter, and I absolutely love the gorgeous russet colour of the seed heads. I think I might be reluctant to cut it back.

Hellebore ‘Molly’s White’. This hellebore has been in the garden for several years and it brightens up an otherwise dull space. Molly’s White is green-tinged with pretty, open flowers that darken to a lime green.

If you want to join with Cathy at Words and Herbs, click the link to go to Cathy’s site. You can also leave your own link in the comments below.

Happy Gardening! It won’t be long until Spring is with us – and hopefully better weather.

Catherine x