Winter interest

Wow, Maine coons... big big big fluffies. Very lovely. My parents have two norwegians, one of which was adopted just today! Can´t wait to visit and cuddle the big furball!

 

Ivory take some pics I would love to see them... I guess we should take this to pets corner :o
Chantall was a BOGOF so I got 2 for the price of one. Lilly has just had a bout of sickness to the tune of £1500.00 but thankfully she was insured. She seems ok now (fingers crossed) I would recommend anyone to get their pets insured as the bills are HOOGE :eek:

 

Hi Nut, and welcome! I'm sure there's many of us would have done the same thing with your contorted hazel! Mine has the 'ordinary' catkins - but it is such a beautiful plant anyway, I'm not jealous (not really anyway! :D)

You'll find bulbs coming into shops/catalogues in the Autumn. I LOVE bulbs - you can buy them cheaply now from many different outlets - not just garden centres (and are often cheaper from supermarkets etc). You plant them, forget about them (trying not to dig them up again), until they push their way through giving you a huge surprise, then burst into bloom! Can't ask for more - and you don't generally need to 'do' anything to make them grow!

I think Ivory mentioned hamamellis - I LOVE mine, and bought it specifically for it's winter interest. Mine is a sulphur yellow - just what you need at that time of year, my neighbour has a rusty brownish one, which I didn't realise was flowering for years, as it just looked like dead leaves :o. However, the fresh leaves in spring are the most fresh of green, and in the winter they turn into little rainbows of colur. A plant worth investing in - they are arcitectural too!

I've had a Scot's Pine growing in a large old jelly pan for a good 10 years now (drilled holes in the bottom for drainage). It looks good throughout the year, and holds it's needles in winter.

My eucalyptus also looks good in the darker months - they can be grown in a large pot too.

I have an iris (a native one - think it's known commonly as 'stinking iris'. It has gorgeous dark green strapping leaves, though it's flowering now, they're not really worth a mention. However, in winter, it's seedpods break open - revealing the most amazing bright orange 'peas'!!! Don't have a pic on my newly refreshed computer - so here's a google pic:

I haven't noticed a smell, so one to look out for perhaps?!

Loving your cats too - even better that they're indoor! Wish my neighbours were as considerate!

 

Hi JarBax
thanks for the info... I like the sound of all of that errrrmmm one question tho.. whats a jellypan??
My list for the garden centre is getting longer by the second.
Another question. I can hear the groans from here . If I plant up containers with bulbs at the desired time do I just leave them alone somehwere in the garden or should they be kept in the dark. I am talking daffs, crocus, snowdrops and the like as I know them. When do I water them? See I told you Im a novice

 

In Scotland, we call it a 'jeely pan', but I thought that would scunner you! It is a large pan used for making jam - maybe in the south it's called a 'jam pot'?! :D

Pic from google:

 

What a super use of your jeely pan I bet it looks super. I get my jam in jars from ASDA. Sorry but I am not at all domesticated. I even get ASDA to cook my chickens :o I know I am a disgrace to womanhood. I can do DIY tho
Should I ask what scunner is? By the way I just googled Hamamelis.. I WANT ONE NOW. Love em

 

:D :D :D