"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."

Thanks to Isabel's hard work in the herb garden cutting everything back and tidying the borders we are well ahead. I got compost on the herb garden borders today and the edges tidied. The herb garden is now ready for spring. Just the top terrace borders to get done, we have been so lucky with the weather this January and February. There I've probably jinxed it now

Allium cepa proliferum, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Acorus calamus, Thymus serpyllum var. albus, Allium cepa perutile, Salvia officinalis, Helianthemum 'Bunbury'  , Thymus pulegoides 'Goldentime', Thymus 'Fragrantissimus' Fragrant Orange, Origanum vulgare, Allium fistulosum, Juniperus communis

Juniper comunis

Cuppa any one?

Snowdrops, due to their size lend themselves to small vases, shot glasses and any other wee containers you have lying around. Different varieties in different vases in a group, with or without foliage, simply perfect.

Atmospheric, abstract river scene

Love the limited edition Madeleine Hand painting we bought
 in Dunkeld on Monday. It fills the space on the bedroom wall perfectly 

Having started tidying the railway garden last week I finished it today. The snowdrops I planted last year are in flower and the hellebores are almost in flower, it might be February but there is plenty of interest be it flowers, foliage or stems. The office border has been tidied and had a tidy and top up of compost and the sales area got a tidy ready for filling up over the next couple of weeks.

Galanthus 'Magnet'

Galanthus 'Hill Poe'

Galanthus 'Magnet'

Helleborus foetidus, Aquilegia 'Volcano', Centaurea 'Jordy', Allium Carinatum pulchellum, Euphorbia polychrome, Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureocaulis, Eryngium agavifolium

Helleborus foetidus

Clematis alpina 'Constance'

Some highlights in the nursery gardens this week, not long until you can see them for yourselves. Lots to do before then but the garden tidy up is almost finished then we’ll start filling the sales area ready for opening on 4th March

Iris 'Katherine Hodgkin', Helleborus argutifolius, Helleborus orientalis, Adonis amurensis, Crocus chrysanthus 'Snowbunting', Ranunculus vernus 'Brazen Hussy', Primula 'Gigha', Eranthus hymalis and Cyclamen coum

I treated myself to some lovely snowdrops a few weeks ago, 'Marjorie Brown', 'Ketton', Beatrix Stanley', 'Viridapice' (niv), 'South Hayes' and 'Wendy's Gold’. I've potted them into these antique terracotta flower pots that I've had forever. I love the aged patina of the pots and they are a perfect size to get these special wee plants growing. They are also perfect for auricula primulas, cacti and succulents and anything else that takes your fancy.

Luckily Viki @ Junkshopantiques has managed to get her hands on some in this size (similar to a modern 9cm pot) and some smaller very cute ones.

You can get all Junkshopantiques info on their Facebook page.

Abstract atmospheric river scene

Never one to waste a soggy day off, the wee hall at the back door has a first coat of gloss on everything that needed it and me, tho I didn't need it, I'm just a messy painter the lower half of the walls and skirting got their first coat. The window and surround got cleaned as did down the side of the mains electricity pipe. This house hasn't had a proper clean in decades before we moved in the dust had dust on it, infact it had formed into solid clumps A trip to Galashiels to order the flooring then a soggy walk on the way back.

Title quote - Anne Bradstreet

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