‘No Enemy But Winter And Rough Weather’
‘No enemy but winter and rough weather…’ As You Like It
Every year at this low ebb of the season, I go to Columbia Rd Market to buy potted bulbs and winter-flowering plants which I replant into my collection of old pots from the market and arrange upon the oak dresser, to observe their growth at close quarters and thereby gain solace and inspiration until my garden shows convincing signs of new life.
Each morning, I drag myself from bed – coughing and wheezing from winter chills – and stumble to the dresser in my pyjamas like one in a holy order paying due reverence to an altar. When the grey gloom of morning feels unremitting, the musky scent of hyacinth or the delicate fragrance of the cyclamen is a tonic to my system, tangible evidence that the season of green leaves and abundant flowers will return. When plant life is scarce, my flowers in pots that I bought for just a few pounds each at Columbia Rd acquire a magical allure for me, an enchanted quality confirmed by the speed of their growth in the warmth of the house, and I delight to have this collection of diverse varieties in dishes to wonder at, as if each one were a unique specimen from an exotic land.
And once they have flowered, I place these plants in a cold corner of the house until I can replant them in the garden. As a consequence, my clumps of Hellebores and Snowdrops are expanding every year and thus I get to enjoy my plants at least twice over – at first on the dresser and in subsequent years growing in my garden.
Staffordshire figure of Orlando from As You Like It
Lovely – just what is needed.
Your flowering bulb collection is gorgeous, as is your selection of bulb bowls. I’m making a note to search out bulb bowls. The grape hyacinths that I bought last year and, after flowering, abandoned in my backyard have sprung into life again so I need to get them an extra special bowl and vow to treat them better this time!
That is so sweet. I can only guess at the difficulty of growing plants in England’s climes, bring from downunder where it does not typically get so cold.
The beauty of the bulbs/blossoms is indisputable — so I will move along and comment on the total
charisma of the containers! I love each one of these. Oh, that little mug with the sailing ship.
Stay warm and cozy, GA.
I love snowdrops and blue hyacinths. I have both growing in my little back garden.
They are gorgeous. I have signs of spring in my garden too. I love the way you chosen such beautiful containers to show off the blooms.
Your winter plants are beautiful!
A real tonic! Well done!!
It is truly wonderful to be able to have some colour from nature at this drab time of the year. The old bowls the bulbs are potted in are cheerful and would make me smile on their own.
What an absolutely delightful post. I’m in I’ve with every one of those stunning pots.
I live in Brisbane, Queensland so we never experience anything like a London winter, not even close.
However many years ago we spent 6 weeks in London from mid December until the end of January and the doom, gloom and almost relentless rain and fog was enough to dampen even my ebullient spirit
It is very warm and muggy here today so I’ve had to go out and spend a lot of time watering my garden. This time of year is not the time to be doing anything in the garden but keep the water up
Thank you for your lovely piece💞