Life persists

There are some plants that, even as the rest are closing down for the winter, start putting out new shoots and flowers.  So here we have flowering quince budding, and, depending on how warm the start of winter is, these buds may even start to open.  But if they do, they will not survive the first hard frosts.

This winter flowering viburnum, on the other hand, will continue to flower and lend its lovely fragrance to the garden right through January and sometimes into February.

Winter flowering heather is much easier to grow in alkaline soils and does well in our garden.  This will continue to look beautiful right up to early spring, alongside snowdrops and early daffodils.

Frosts

By early December frost is in the air and it's not uncommon to wake up to find a delicate hoar frost on the leaves of evergreens. But what caught my attention first today was the vapour trails of two jets catching the light of the rising sun.

 

Frost lends the trees a ghostly appearance, warmed a touch by the early pink glow on the top of the field maple.

 

Two tall poplars catch the rays of the rising sun first.

 

 

There's a delicate filigree of frost around the edge of the bay leaves, making them look as if this is some new variegated variety.

 

Mellow Fruitfulness

By Remembrance Day the trees have started turning and late apples still hang on the boughs.  Here's our field maple and a neighbouring poplar looking splendid in the morning sun.

These are Golden Delicious, best picked after they have had a few frosts on them.