A view of Lake Bolsena at the end of a cold crisp January day
December has sped past as it always will, with the busy time running up to Christmas. The garden has changed with the effects of frosty mornings, cold nights and more rain. And so another year comes to an end! Why is it that they flash by so quickly? Soon it will be time to begin sowing seeds – the beginning of a new season.
As I did last year I thought I would share with you the images that I used as my screensavers through the year. Sometimes I change the image almost as soon as I take a new batch of photos; other times a favourite image will stay for weeks.
I notice how often I use the formal beds at the front of the house; I think I find the formality restful; not all the images are of the garden, the surrounding countryside also figures often.
January Seed heads and berries bring life to the garden
In Febuary we had snow
February: We were snowed-in for a few days but the views outside were lovely
To me March is YELLOW
March, Euphorbia add acid colour
March, Californian Poppies open their sunny faces to the sun
April brings Poppies that carpet the countryside, my favourite wild flower. I smile every time I see them!
April also brings new bright leaves to the trees and tulips
April, tulips and Photinia and new growth on Rosa Westerland all have the same warm colour
April, before the storm
April, looking accross to the large island
April, the slope was very colourful
May, the slope with a profusion of Californian poppies
May, Rosa Rimosa on the perpola
May, Irises and Cistus with olives in the background
June, Penesetun villosa already doing a great job
June, ever present butterflies on the lavender
June, the formal beds
June, not just butterflies feel on the lavender
June, the surrounding fields are at their abundant best
July, more butterflies, here the false swallowtail
July, of course many bees visit too!
September, the formal beds crisply clipped
September, Asters are the stars of the show
September, Penesetum villosa still reflecting the evening light
October, Aster ‘Monte Casino with Knautia
October, wonderful sunsets are one of the joys of autumn
October The Perovskia was late to show its beauty this year because of the drought
November brings sudden storms and dramatic skies
November, Iris unguiclaris
November, Miscanthus
November, more sunsets
November and the sky is on fire
December brought and early winter, with frost every morning for 10 days or so
December, the formal beds from above
December, frost on already silver foliage
December the light turns the Euphorbia and Argave blue
December, Garlic Chives, Allium tuberosum, Seedheads
To each of you who regularly leave comments and I count very firmly as my gardening friends and to those who read quietly but leave on trace of their presence I wish you all a Very Happy Gardening New Year! Christina
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Your formal garden does look wonderful all year. I dont generally like thatd sort of garden but I like the way you have used lavender etc.
I love the poppies in your neighbouring fields.
Thank you for joining in this year. I enjoy your blog although I often find myself feeling I have much to do in my garden to try and catch up. You should be proud of the garden
Thank you Helen. I’ve enjoyed reading about all your trails and tribulations throughout the year. I hope 2013 brings you happiness. Christina
Your garden and photography is exceptional! What a wonderful review! I’m so happy I’ve found your blog this year! Best wishes for 2013.
Anna 🙂
Gosh! I am thrilled to have seen this overview, Christina, having only dipped in for a few EOMVs or GBBDs before – there are so many enjoyable garden blogs and I wish it was possible to keep up with all of them! Thanks for all the contributions you have made, to our blogs and to your own.
Christina you picked so many of my very favorite pictures from the year on your blog…I still love the snow and those poppies…but really your gardens are amazing in all seasons…Happy New Year to you dear gardening friend!!
Thank you Donna, yes, I do think of us as gardening friends. Christina
How delightful to walk around your garden thru the year. Some magic at work there!
you are welcome to leave a link to your January’s Dozen post on my current post. This year my dates are going to be very flexible, as life happens.
Gorgeous photos! 😀 A very Happy Gardening Year to you too, Christina!
magnificent photos, Christina, as always.
May I bring some friends to see your garden in June ?
We’ll talk closer to the time.
Christina, I so admire your handiwork that is your garden and have enjoyed reading your interesting plans and observations. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! Susie
What a wonderful selection of photos through the year, your skies are certainly dramatic and the wild flowers of the country side are amazing! Your garden is beautiful no matter which month it is.
Happy New Year to you Christina and thanks for all your comments through the year!
It definitely is that time of the year to review the garden and take pleasure and recall the different sensations the garden brings to us during the year. I really enjoyed your photographs and your review took me back through the year as I am becoming familiar with the garden through your photographs. Such a lot to look forward to in 2013!
A wonderful record of the year Christina – can almost feel the sunshine from here. I hope that the new year treats you and your garden kindly xxx
wishing you a very Happy New Year Christina,
beautiful photos Christina, your garden always looks lovely to me,
I noticed you missed my birth month ………….. Frances
A lovely collection of pictures. Those poppies are stunning, as are your fiery or brooding skies. I sowed Pennisetum villosum last year, and have clutches of strong plants now – hope that they look as striking as yours do in full flower.
Quite a year it has been, let’s hope next year is a little more constant! Happy New Year to you, S x
Love it all…LOVE the slope…but the formal beds grab me every time. What I really want to know is…how is that olive oil tasting??????? 🙂 CHEERS TO 2013!
The oil is wonderful!
Thank you, Christina, for a look at your fabulous garden through the seasons. I don’t have time to comment on each breathtaking photo, but the field of poppies and the April shot before the storm are testament that your stunning garden is located in an equally stunning countryside. I am fortunate to get a virtual peek! Happy New Year and very best wishes for your garden in 2013!
Gorgeous photos, Christina – really. I love your garden more every time I visit. Happy New Year to you. Dave
Thanks, Dave. I’m pleased you enjoy you visits. Christina
What a gorgeous post, and what beautiful photographs. Very positive and cheering!
What a lovely way to celebrate the year in your garden. Beautiful images. I surprised myself over Christmas, looking through the images I found most inspirational in thinking about the front garden, they were all rather calm and restful, not quite formal, but lots of repetition of shapes and colours. I understand why you find the formal garden so restful, though we all need an occasional field of poppies or dose of acid green euphorbias to stir us up at times. Looking forward to watching your garden in 2013.
Hi Christina, I think you have the most beautiful screensavers in the world! Your photos are fantastic! Your garden looks so lovely at any time of the year and the surrounding country side is just stunning. I am new to your blog, but I intend to come back here frequently and follow your garden adventures in Lazio.
Christina
Thanks. Your garden awakens my irrational desire to spend the rest of my life in Italy.
My irrational desire became reality, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want to move from your amazing garden. Christina