Frosty weather, willow weaving and aeroplanes

Every week has a different weather at the moment, its certainly windier and wetter, so different from last years dry January. Sunny days really highlight the grass flower heads and winter colours in the nursery gardens such as Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfedder' which was looking fabulous in the late afternoon winter sun. I'm still working away on the willow fedge weaving and another 44 feet of willow weaving and the first side finished and a good way along the second side done on Monday enjoying the winter sun and blue sky.

Tuesday was a cold one! -7C so there was no chance of any willow weaving as it was frozen solid and would only snap if I tried, plus not even me the mad gardener that I am would stand out in -7 So I had no excuse but to do battle with the admin mountain, and fuelled by coffee and almost sitting on the heater in the office I did accomplish a lot. Emails dealt with, the new leaflets I am writing for you lovely customers to pick up in the nursery when you visit finished, a list of the point of sale signs to be replaced made, and so many other things. Feeling almost on top of things and of course it means we get lots of beautiful photos of plants in the garden.

Helleborus argutifolius 

Helleborus argutifolius

Allium cepa proliferum

Helleborus x hybridus ‘White Lady Spotted’

Corylus avellana 'Contorta'

Ilex aquifolium

Echinacea purpurea 'Brilliant Star'

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'

Frozen bubbles

Frozen willow

Humulus lupulus

Pontaderia cordata frozen in time in the
 herb garden water trough

Ranunculus verna 'Brazen Hussy'

-8C when I arrived at the nursery on Wednesday Time to get the burner fired up and some rubbish burnt, I might have smelt like an over cooked kipper but at least I was warm

Maisie meanwhile spent the day in her office bed under a blanket with the heater right next to her and she denies she is spoilt, hmmmm

The first of several deliveries of new stock arrived and is unpacked ready to go in the wee shop for opening in March, lots of new items coming this year

Another delivery today unpacked and waiting to go into the wee shop when we open at the beginning of March. Some lovely new items and old favourites including the very popular cast lizards and frogs, back by popular demand

Back to willow weaving on Thursday, the temperature was up form -8C yesterday to a balmy 3C the wind chill was brutal though. So many layers on its hard to bend over to pick up the willow prunings, I swear it is not the food indulgence over the festive season Still good to get on with weaving listening to some pod casts, I'm hoping this task will be done by then end of next week

Some macro shots of the ice crystals on the sales tables last week. Nature is amazing

A trip to East Lothian last Saturday, we found a mouse house at Hailes Castle and early snowdrops. We made use of our museum membership and visited the museum of Flight at East Fortune. Last time I was there Ben had his broken ankle in a stookie. We definitely got the best of the weather.

The river is already flooding and the storm is yet to come....

A walk along the river on Sunday before the rain and storms blew in.

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