Happy New Year! We’ve dodged the flooding disasters that a lot of the country has experienced recently. But the garden is looking a little dull and weather beaten at the moment. Snowflakes are starting to emerge, though it’s a little early for them here in the midlands, so we’ll have some extra colour soon.

We do have some good winter plants here that have been at their best for a while. My favourite being this Viburnum x bodnantense (Bodnant Viburnum). This is grown for its winter flowers (November – March) and though they are small, they have a lovely scent – good for us and an early food source for insects. They’re best planted near to where people will walk in winter so that they release the fragrance when they brush past. It was developed by Charles Puddle the head gardener of Bodnant Garden, North Wales, in the 1930s. This is a garden famed for its winter colour and interest, so if you’re after a ton of inspiration in this dreary time of year, head up there for a mosey.

📷 Steven Corbelli via  Adobe Stock #307019991