January 25, 2023
Winter Warmers
Christmas feels like an age ago and January just keeps going!
Although winter can make us feel a little snowed under, Michele's garden always has some beautiful flowers to brighten up even the bluest days. Have a read to see what plants have been blooming.
The white dianthus is a pristine hardy perennial that will produce beautiful fragrant frilled flowers with a compact bushy habit. It is popular for its long flowering nature.
Abutilon is a graceful shrub, native to the dry mountain valleys of Brazil. Slender stems are hung with showy, lantern-shaped flowers over a long season.
A delightful tuberous perennial providing colour often when little else is flowering, particularly in late winter or early spring. Hardy cyclamen species and cultivars are ideal for naturalising under trees, on banks or in a shady border and planted in association with other early-flowering woodland plants such as snowdrops, winter aconites and primroses.
Viburnums are versatile, easy-to-grow shrubs that thrive in a wide range of situations. There are many to choose from, large or small, evergreen or deciduous, with winter, spring or summer flowers.
Flowering in early to mid-autumn, hardy nerine offer starry pink and white blooms that are invaluable bulbs for bringing late colour to the garden. Frost-tender types need winter protection but provide equally vibrant blooms so can add panache to your greenhouse and conservatory displays in October and November.
With its large, scented, trumpet flowers, hanging in abundance from its branches all summer, this tropical shrub or small tree is a real showstopper. Grow it in a large container outdoors in summer or indoors all year. Protect it from winter cold, and water liberally and daily throughout the growing season.
Penstemons are reliable summer-flowering perennials in all but the coldest regions. With semi-evergreen foliage in winter and a flowering season from summer into autumn, they bring welcome colour to the garden.
Schizostylis is a superb autumn - early winter, flowering bulb and is excellent for the middle of a sheltered sunny, moist but well-drained border. Earlier flowering than many other varieties, it provides vertical interest and a supply of cut flowers for use indoors.
We hope you enjoyed this insight into Michele's world!
Thank you for reading from the team at Artisan Alchemy.
As always, if you would like to commission an extra special piece of jewellery or furniture, please do get in touch - email artisans@artisan-alchemy.co.uk or call 0121 233 1186.
With best wishes from Michele and the team at Artisan Alchemy 😊