Well not exactly earth hard as iron territory instead very windy and lashings of rain (and since I started writing this even more lashing wind and rain). The stream has been up and down pooling at the bottom of the garden and running up the mole tunnels making the lawn spongy and walking unsteady, it hit the highest yet overnight into Christmas Eve.
We’ve gone past the shortest day and are now officially in winter. One of the hazels is already displaying quite long catkins. The Prunus subhirtella is scattered with white blossom. I’m glad I picked some holly when it still had berries the trees have now been nearly stripped.
Last week I planted some bare root trees from Buckingham Nurseries, Small Leaved Limes to replace two that didn’t grow, and when dug up had made no root growth at all although one had tried to sprout from the bottom. These limes are supposed to be able to cope with soggier conditions. And have since been under water!
In the conservatory the Brugmansia have dropped all their leaves and are displaying ridiculously large trumpets still. The sad looking heliotrope are also providing some scent. The Geranium madarense Alba are certainly enjoying the conditions with fresh new growth, one of the only plants in active growth at the moment.