Continuing my plan of writing about what I’m enjoying in the garden each week.
This week it has been the bare branches silhouetted against the cold blue sky that have given me most pleasure, along with the bright yellow berries of the Melia azedarach.
Mulberry – lovely trunk and branches with Acanthus forming a billowing skirt around the base
A newly visible nest in the walnut tree
I often complain that trees here in Italy often have very sparse leaves in comparison to in the UK, but the walnut harboured a magpie nest that I knew nothing about until the tree lost its leaves.
Melia berries against the sky
Melia against a backdrop of Quercus ilex
Late flowers on the new Arbutus in the new planting
Rose Sophie’s perpetual living up to her name
Lavender – full of flower
Euphorbia rigida with lots of buds just about to open
Euphorbia rigida
All the above images were taken on Sunday, since then we have had some severe frosts with even the daytime temperatures not climbing above 5°C and the lows have been minus 3 or 4; walking around the garden on Tuesday afternoon I could see that some plants have been very shocked by the frost, the Arbutilon which has been in flower since autumn has dead frosted flowers all over it.
The Nandina berries look wonderful with just a little sun on them.
Low afternoon light catches the red stems of Euphorbia on the slope
It is good to have some cold weather, I believe that it helps reduce the pests and diseases in the garden but with the very mild weather we were experiencing up until a week ago many plants may be experiencing some shock.
I’m glad I picked the bearded Iris when I did as it certainly wouldn’t have survived outside.
What are you enjoying in your garden this week? I know many of you have had snow and that has its own beauty.
I’ll be posting about the foliage in my garden on Friday 22nd; I do hope you’ll join in with whatever foliage is pleasing you this month. Keep warm!
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Quest’anno le melie sono meravigliose, hai visto anche quelle al Bulicame? ne ho viste a Roma di enormi piene di frutti!!!
Sono sempre belle! Tu intende quelle vicino il terme cche se vede dal Tuscanese?
Still looking very beautiful in your garden. Lovely.
In parts, Doris, only in parts.
Well from here I can see the lovely bits
Those blue skies on a chilly winters day are really uplifting to see in your photos and to experience first hand Christina. We’ve had a few days of sub zero temperatures here and a little snow but the forecasters have just predicted back up to plus 11 on Sunday, I’d prefer a “normal” winter as plants and early buds will be damaged and as you say helps with pests and diseases, we were even visited in our kitchen by a sprightly wasp last night.
I’m one of the people who suffer from SAD so having these blue sky sunny days is more than just a lift to the spirits. It is predicted that it will remain cold here for at least the next week. We often have early buds followed by cold weather in late February, it doesn’t seem to do too much harm.
I hope that you have lots of blue skies to enjoy this winter Christina.
I hope so too.
I love those Nandina berries glowing in the winter sun and the silhouettes of trees against that clear blue sky really lifts the spirits.
Those Nandina berries are stunning in the sunlight. I too am enjoying looking at the silhouettes of trees, especially a couple of silver birches. We have no snow, but like you very heavy frost. It is concerning when it lasts like this as that does finish off more delicate plants without sufficient protection. However, what is even more surprising, is how many will survive, even if they are knocked back a bit.
I agree the length of time the frost lasts plus how wet the ground is makes a difference to survival rates.
Hopefully it is beginning to warm up here now.
There’s a lot of winter left yet Annette, here winter has only just begun.
Unfortunately you are right, but winter here isn’t always this cold thankfully. The ground is too frozen to do anything and I have a load of wood chippings to move off my euphorbia!
I am perhaps believing the cliché that it is always cold in Aberdeen, sorry.
Being on the coast we don’t have such extremes of temperature, Christina , and often miss the worst of the weather. We have a lot of rather dull, miserable days though.
There’s a lot to enjoy in your garden, it seems. In particular, I love that first shot of the bare tree with its lush evergreen accompaniment and the last shot of soft, feather grasses. Well done!
I’m proving to myself that there is always something beautiful if I look hard enough.
Hi Christina. It is heartening to see some greenery and lavender flowers! It’s a different world here – my garden is completely dormant and even some remaining grasses and seedheads have been flattened by snow and cold, so thanks for sharing your lovely photos to cheer me up!
Winter is the time our gardens are very different aren’t they Cathy; when spring arrives yours catches up very fast. If the garden is dormant, you can rest or do other things like baking! Keep very warm.
I can almost smell the clean, crisp air, Christina! We enjoyed a little rain this week.
Yes, you’re right the air is crisp.
I love your mulberry tree, Christina. Do you know how old it is?
Even though the mulberry looks large it isn’t actually very old, certainly not more than 30 years at the very most.
We had a hoar frost this morning which made a fairyland of the garden. Your garden has lots of interest even in the depths of winter. I love those Melia berries and the Nandina is lovely.
I hope you will post some images of the hoar frost Liz; it is a wonderful sight when everything is turned magically white and sparkling. It is nearly one here today, the ground is completely white and the solar panel was thickly white, but it is melting quite quickly with the sun shining on in.
I love the walk through your garden that your photo series affords all of us. I live in a pretty mild climate so winter is a wonderful time to get out daily and take a look at what’s happening.
I don’t think of Seattle being particularly mild Charlie; is it warmer than its latitude would suggest because it is close to the ocean? Perhaps I need to look at a map.
I’m still getting a lot of rain and not much cold but we are due for warm weather next! Your photograph of the Nandina is beautiful. Amelia
The Nandina is one of my most successful plants, but very slow growing do I wish I’d planted more.
It’s easy to forget to get out there and appreciate at this time of year. We’re having a rare ray of sunshine right now and you have inspired me to go exploring.
I am learning to appreciate the times when the garden isn’t at its most inviting; I hope I can continue to be positive in the heat of summer too.
I love the appearance of your mulberry, Christina and it is in a such a lovely spot
Nothing this week in the garden as we are still covered in snow….love the mulberry and melia!
Your deep snow has its own beauty Donna and your spring bulbs will be even more special to you because you’ve had to wait for them.