The garden in January is a muted palette of browns and greens, with a hint of colour provided by the pinks and whites of the winter flowering Irish heathers. The bare bones of the garden are exposed and everything seems quietly dormant in the January garden.
A winter garden
What has been eventful, though, is the January weather. In just a few weeks, the weather has subjected the garden to everything a winter can throw at it. From frost, snow and lingering fog to almost hurricane force winds as Storm Eowyn journeyed across N Ireland. Thankfully, the garden has sustained no real damage, although the winds finished off my little greenhouse. Its broken pieces are now sadly relegated to the bin !
January days are, of course, short and dark, but there have been some lovely afternoons too, filled with that beautiful, low winter light. And, in those moments, I make a quick cup of tea and wander out to enjoy the garden and its quiet serenity at this time of year.
Scenes from the garden in January
Spirea laced with frost, busy birds in the snow, snow laded garden pots and that beautiful winter light
Flowers in winter
Elsewhere, the winter flowering cherry tree and viburnum provide welcome pops of colour on those January afternoons of light and shadow . And in my own garden, the first snowdrop has flowered. It’s always a welcome sight at this time of year and with the promise of many more snowdrops to come in February.
The first snowdrop on a January afternoon
Planning for the days ahead
And while the garden slumbers, I can see green shoots from the daffodil bulbs and the tiniest tips of the tulip bulbs that were planted back in November. The garden is slowly awakening and I am itching to get back to it. In the meantime, I am busying myself indoors, browsing my favourite gardening websites and sorting out my seed collection. Inevitably, I’ve made a few purchases – because I can’t help myself ! I’ve shared links below to some of the flowers I hope to grow this year.
Well, that’s a little round up of my garden in January. How have you found January? How is your garden doing ?
Thanks for stopping by,
Paula
Useful Links
The dahlias I’ve bought from Sarah Raven – Buy Perfect Balance Dahlia Collection | Dark and Rich Dahlia Collection | Sarah Raven
The scented pelargoniums I’ve bought from Sarah Raven – Scented Pelargonium Collection | Sarah Raven
You have flowers! 🤗 I’m afraid our little garden has none this year, just a few berries! We also have been lucky with regard to the recent storms, not so several neighbours with television aerials down, ridge tiles blown off and fences broken! And still so many without electricity and even water! Your garden photos are a joy as they lift our spirits! 🤗🙋♂️
Oh thank you so much. The storm was wild, wasn’t it ? I spoke to someone today whose power won’t be restored until the weekend !
Your photos are beautiful but I particularly love that little snowdrop in the window. We hardly had any snow unlike other areas but it has been very cold.
Thank you so much Andrea. That snowdrop has flowered very early but I’m very happy to see it !