Gardening through the Seasons with Margaret Finch

Our Gardens this year have been even more of an important space, to not only to do gardening jobs but to use this as a work out rather than the gym, to relax in, to meet friends and play. My own Garden has been a true blessing and now winter approaches. It’s not going on hold! The joy of our Seasons are very welcoming and a great challenge .The importance of colour is paramount as our days have low light levels.

This may be a common shrub but gives a punch and much pleasure to any Garden.

Euonymus emerald and gold is a vibrant statement which can be grown up walls with a little support or as a stand alone shrub even good in a container. It makes brilliant cut foliage in flower arrangements for the house having a long lasting life in water.The showy yellow and green foliage can have a tinge of red when frosted adding a Christmasy ambience. In the Spring very small white flowers can appear on older Shrubs with small red/pinky berries in the Winter.

Senecio renamed Brachyglottis has distinctive silvery foliage reflecting light a charming shrub. Easy to grow and suitable for any well drained soil even chalk. Coping so well in full sun due to its thick oval almost Downey Silver foliage . Responding to hard pruning which keeps the stems young and very useful for flower arrangements lasts a long time,

I do cut off the yellow flowers when they appear in the summer to maintain the silver foliage over all appearance.

Not only are bright and cheerful shrubs uplifting our spirits in the winter garden to capture a waft of Sarcococca is extremely heavenly. The dark glossy leaves conceal tiny white flowers at the back of their stems a great contrast planted near the vibrant Euonymus and in a position where you visit regularly also another good foliage to use with flowers and decorating the home for Christmas and a great idea to add to your wish list, if you don’t have any Sarcococca they don’t disappoint.