2013.12.22 GBFD
I wasn’t sure I’d manage a post for foliage day this month as were not at home today and I like to show what is actually happening ‘on the day’ so to speak. This week I have visited a couple gardens even though the weather has been bitingly cold and rain has been in the air.
So for this month’s Foliage day post I’d like to share with you some of the stunning foliage I saw at West Dean garden.
It is so close to Christmas I don’t expect anyone will have time to join in but if you would like to, just add a comment and add the link to your post. Maybe you found just one stunning leaf, that would be nice to share.
A bank with just foliage planting was stunning
There was lots of beautifully pruned Box, I loved it
Cyclamen is always lovely
A busy mix, but it worked!
have you visited somewhere in an unusual season and seen something to inspire you, do share, Christina
I do like that pruned boxwood and the cyclamen foliage too. I’ve grown cyclamen indoors only and must get some for the garden. Thanks for hosting GBFD Christina. My contribution is minor this month but find my post at http://pbmgarden.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/garden-bloggers-foliage-day-december-2013/
Thank you very much for joining in FBFD on such a busy weekend, I really appreciate your taking the time, and so festive too! Garden cyclamen are lovely, providing flower and interesting foliage when other plants are dormant.
Beautiful pictures !
Catherine and Mark
I had to smile when I saw your cyclamen, ivy and ferns, Christina, as you will see if you look at my post! I am pleased to read that you were still able to visit some gardens while you were in the UK, regardless of the weather. West Dean is not one I have been to before – we had a long w/e in Sussex a few years back but there were so many lovely gardens we couldn’t get to the all.
http://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/garden-bloggers-foliage-day-a-multi-stemmed-approach/
Thanks for joining in again this month Cathy. I enjoyed West Dean, I’d never visited before and at this time of year all the structural planting was lovely.
enjoy your time away Christina despite the weather, I imagine at this time of year you had the garden to yourselves, lovely photos, I love the ferny misty photos and the cyclamen, clip box just doesn’t do it for me, too stiff and ordered,
I’ve actually got something to be able to join in this month, thanks for hosting, Frances
http://islandthreads.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/foliage-and-last-greece-post/
Thanks Frances, sorry you didn’t enjoy the Box, I love it more and more as I get older! Thank you for joining in this month too.
Christina, please, please do not apologise for the clipped box, I was just noting why I didn’t compliment it, it’s good that people like different things, Frances
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with that, the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things.
It’s good to see glimpses of West Dean Christina. Have visited there but only in the summer. There is something most soothing to the eye about that box.
Glad you enjoyed the virtual visit.
Very pretty. I am not sure why more people do not grow cyclamen as a ground cover. It fills in very quickly and looks beautiful all winter. It’s summer dormancy is very brief.
That’s an excellent point about the summer dormancy and anyway it can give space to some fleeting flowering plant that would leave a gap the rest of the year.
I enjoyed the foliage and am linking in with foliage that is now tucked into my basement under the grow lights…
http://gardenseyeview.com/2013/12/16/simply-the-best-herbs-december/
Thanks for joining in Donna, everything counts for this meme and some fresh herbs are a treasure at this time of year.
Lucky you to visit West Dean. The foliage pictures are lovely, although they make me a bit miserable when I look down at my bare garden! Still – inspiring too! Your post came on the same day as I read the article about evergreen perennials in the November issue of The Garden. Hope the sun shines on you over Christmas!
Thanks Cathy, I did enjoy my first visit to West Dean very much despite the dreadfully cold biting wind.
We just arrived in Austin late last night. Yesterday was one of those hectic travelling days. Today we’ll go out for a walk and will maybe find something for a post.
We went to West Dean for the first time this summer and loved it. I enjoyed our visit to the Botanic gardens in Birmingham last Christmas. It was freezing cold but it was so good to get out and there was a surprising amount to see. Hoping we might get to somewhere next week it the rain we’re having ever stops. Have a very Merry Christmas. WW
I hope you do manage to get out next week and that the bad weather won’t stop you getting to wherever you need to be. A very happy Christmas to you and your family. Christina
Well, I for one love clipped box and am very fond indeed of West Dean. Merry Christmas, Christina. Dave
I also really admired the way all the fruit trees were pruned, I would love to try that. Thank you for the good wishes and a very happy Christmas to you too.
Merry Christmas Christina, enjoy the holidays, I hope the weather is kind to you. Every good wish for 2014 too.
Thank you Julie and all my good wishes to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year.
Beautiful box, I too find myself more and more drawn to the sense of calm that clipped evergreens provide, plus such an excellent backdrop for other plants. I failed to join in thanks to pre Christmas visitors, but thank you for giving me yet another reason to plant lots of cyclamen in the coming year. Merry Christmas!
A very happy Christmas to you and your family too. Have a great gardening year in 2014! Christina
I love the cyclamen! I keep telling myself I must get some for my own garden. I hope you had a wonderful christmas, and I wish you the very best in 2014. Happy gardening!