in THE GARDEN …

Hellebores : A plant that brings joy through the winter and gives hope that there is still life in the garden . Often known as lenten or Christmas roses , with their luxurious blooms and evergreen foliage , hellebores are hardy plants that thrive in cold temperatures , providing colour and interest during winter months . Choose from classic white or pinks through to beautiful dark burgundy and purples , and plant them under deciduous trees or shrubs , allowing light through in winter and providing shade in the summer . Prune last year ’ s leaves back in the autumn to allow the flowers to look their best through the cold months . Every garden needs at least one hellebore , and if you don ’ t have much space , a pot by the front door will look great !

Cornus ( dogwood ): This plant is celebrated for its vibrant , fiery-coloured bark that stands out in winter gardens . Choose from burgundy , red , orange or lime green stems - we like to plant

them with big stripes of each colour and hellebores underneath . They don ’ t look like much in the summer , but once the leaves fall in the autumn , the stems are beautiful . Cornus is easy to grow ; they prefer sun or partial shade and like it reasonably moist although some do survive hot , dry summers . For the best colour stems , prune them back in February just as the leaves are starting to sprout . Look for Cornus Midwinter Fire for stems that transition from red at the base to orange at the top .

Sarcococca ( sweet or winter box ): This shrub is valued for its glossy evergreen foliage and highly fragrant white winter flowers . It ’ s perfect for containers or borders and thrives even in dry shaded areas that get no direct sunlight and very little water . The scent of the flowers on a cold January day is so uplifting and this is an underrated great addition to any garden .

Winter Jasmine ( jasminium nudiflorum ): With its bright yellow flowers on bare stems , winter jasmine brings a splash of colour to gardens during the colder months . Thriving in full sun to part shade , this is a hardy plant that can be grown on walls or trellises but does need support as it does not naturally cling . Prune after it has flowered to remove the old wood and encourage new growth which will bear next season ’ s flowers . For year round interest , you could plant with a clematis which likes similar conditions but flowers at a different time of year .

Snowdrops : These early-flowering bulbs herald the end of winter with their

delicate white blooms . Snowdrops are easy to grow and can naturalise in grass or under trees . You can still plant bulbs through November , but if you miss this window , don ’ t worry as we will have them for sale – in the green – already growing in pots from January . You will be rewarded year after year when their flowers appear in the darkest months and it ’ s worth getting down on your hands and knees to inspect the delicate lime green patterns on the petals . As the clumps expand , you may want to divide and replant the bulbs . It ’ s best to do this just after they have flowered but are still in leaf . Gently lift the clump and separate the bulbs taking care not to damage them . Split into smaller groups and replant straight away at the same depth they were before . Over time you will rejuvenate your snowdrop clumps and encourage more vigorous growth and flowering in future seasons .

These plants not only provide visual interest , but also add structure and fragrance to gardens during the winter season . It is well worth adding some to your outside space to bring a bit of cheer in the darker months and help to combat the winter blues . If you haven ’ t got much space , a few pots filled with hellebores and spring bulbs will do the trick just as well . So , no need to despair , in fact the winter is a great time to celebrate new growth and life .

millbrookgc . co . uk