Through the Garden Gate in December

In my last wander through the garden gate for 2016 these empty branches stood out starkly in the lower light levels of a December sky.


However there is hope just around the corner with these primulas in flower - although something has been nibbling it's petals! This morning while  spending a couple of hours gardening I discovered the buds of the Christmas rose and bulbs slowly emerging - such a welcome sight.



The mild winter so far, has allowed us to carry on picking mixed salad leaves and with lettuce growing in the greenhouse, it is still rare for us to buy lettuce from the shops.


We bought this Judas Tree (cercis siliquastrum) nearly two years ago, It really struggled until in desperation we cut it back  and since then it has flourished. I love the shape of the leaves - they look just like little hearts hanging from the branches.

As it is the last visit to the garden this year and to add some colour to the post, just a reminder of the best times in the garden and the dream of new delights to come!


Please visit the other gardens who are joining me in "through the Garden Gate". If you wish to join us please mention in the comments below.

Others taking part in through the garden gate are:-

Margaret's patch
Elephant's Eye
Coastal Ripples

Thank you for coming on visits to my garden during the last year it has been lovely sharing it with everyone.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. A lovely stark winter garden, and a beautiful reminder of the lushness of summer. Those red mustard leaves are delicious aren't they. I hope there are lots of bugs making use of your bug house. CJ xx

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  2. How wonderful that you can harvest something from the garden in winter! Your plants are four to five months ahead of ours.

    Happy New Year, Sarah

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  3. Sarah, I finished planting bulbs today and like you, I am itching to get out there. While I am not fond of the clean up, I have decided that this year I am hiring someone to clean up and get all the leaves up. First thing I need to do in the new year. Loved looking at your garden pics and I bet the lettuce is delicious.

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  4. Lovely Christmas roses already. You look sorted and tidy ready for spring. I will be adding my link to you tomorrow. Trying to finish the big winter tidy. B x

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  5. These little harbingers of Spring are so delightful see, and with the mild weather we have been having, I am sure that soon more will be showing.
    Did you have any insects nesting in your box?

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    1. The insects have definitely used the box this year, many of the holes have been filled in. Sarah x

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  6. I was also admiring your insect house.
    Anyone home?

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    1. See answer above, you both asked the same question within minutes of each it here! Sarah x

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  7. I need to move to England. I just hurt my back shoveling 20 inches of snow. Sigh...

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    1. I don't envy you clearing away that much snow! Sarah x

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  8. I love that last photo of the rose--beautiful!

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  9. I enjoy seeing your garden views in all seasons, and I'm impressed with the vegetables you are still able to harvest. We still have some Primroses on the front porch that are colorfully frozen!

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  10. Beautiful 2016 memories, Sarah! I wish you a fantastic and peaceful stroll through 2017!

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  11. Sarah, Salat in Winter, wo. Today it is so sunny and the birds are singing, that I have a feeling of spring.
    I wish you a very healthy and happy new year.

    Sigrun

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  12. Lovely. Here is wishing for abundant color and laughter in the new year! And lots of gardening, of course.

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  13. I just checked my Hellebores yesterday and even with the warmer weather, no flowers in sight! Eventually....
    I know just what you mean about cutting back a plant. You struggle (and it struggles) and then when you finally decided to do the deed....lo and behold it is just what the plant wanted!!! Congratulations!

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  14. Lovely photos of the garden .... I always love seeing a bit of colour in the garden in winter & the brave primula a are usually the first to come out. Best wishes & happy gardening for the new year

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  15. I love the quiet, resting garden of winter, but I'm also looking forward to thing growing and the colour coming back. Your garden photos are lovely. Happy New Year to you both x

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  16. Good afternoon Sarah, I think our garden plants are a little confused, because before I left for our holiday in Chicago, I still had roses budding and clematis flowering, which quite frankly is unheard of here in the North East of England.
    I enjoyed looking at your beautiful garden photos as they were a reminder of things to come.
    Wishing you all the best for 2017.
    Daphne

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  17. I so enjoy seeing your garden in such a different environment from mine. (I bought a new greenhouse yesterday - a storm proof one, I hope!)

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