The Garden in December 2021
Even I have to admit that December is not considered to be a great month by many gardeners with its short days, cold and often unpredictable weather and plenty of other things to occupy the mind and time! However, even at the end of the year there are still some features of interest to raise the spirits as I will try to point out in this month’s blog. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get to Aberglasney in the final days of November as I had planned to do. We were all set to go on a lovely sunny day but my back had other ideas. Then in the following days the weather and in particular Storm Arwen turned against us so I am afraid that you will have to wait until the new year for our next visit. My apologies for this and also for having to concentrate on our own garden for the rest of this blog.
In November our garden highlights apart from some late flowers definitely came from the wonderful autumn leaf colours which, although all too fleeting, make late autumn a very special time.
In December our main interest comes from early flowering shrubs such as Viburnum, Mahonia and Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), the promise of flowers to come from swelling buds on such plants as Hamamelis (Witch Hazel), Cornus mas, Sarcococca (Christmas Box), Skimmia, Magnolia and Camellia, interesting shapes and colours of bark and twigs and finally the evergreen plants which really come into their own as the winter months begin. Ours include Mahonia, Pittosporum, Taxus (Yew), Cotoneaster and Pinus to which we are adding a Holly, Ilex altaclerensis ‘Golden King’. This is a lovely variegated Holly with largely spine-less leaves and as it is surprisingly, considering its name, a female plant it produces bright red berries as long as there is a male variety nearby to pollinate its flowers. For more details and photographs of our garden in December it might be worth a look back at my blog for December 2020 where I highlighted quite a few of my winter favourites.
As far as December jobs go you will be delighted to hear that there are plenty to keep you busy and warm! Having said that there actually isn’t a jobs list for December 2019- I think Joe was trying to give you all a month off- but the lists for November 2019 and January 2020 will give you some suggestions if you are desperate to get outside. As far as our own garden is concerned we shall be concentrating on collecting the last of this year’s leaves, keeping off the lawn as best we can, beginning the winter pruning and continuing to feed our feathered friends. For more details on all of these it is worth having a look at the last section of my blog for December 2020.
I will be back with you in January and all being well back at Aberglasney as well. Until then keep safe and well and fingers crossed have a much better Christmas than you were able to have last year.
Keith