Who said winter had to be dull?

With dreary days ahead, how lucky are we that we can have colour in our garden?

ink camellias, ericas, grevilleas, hebes, proteas, viburnums. vireyas and daphne. All of these varieties will ower through the greyest of days.

And at ground level, cyclamen, pansies, polyanthus, poppies, primulas, alyssum, lobelia and, of course, the spears of bulbs to get us excited as we wait for buds to appear. Who said winter had to be dull and dreary!

FROM THE

GARDEN

With Margaret Wilson from Pacifica Garden Centre

Autumn has provided its usual bounty of colourful fallen leaves. While we may mutter deprecations about the mess, if we have the space and inclination to heap it all up in a corner – weather permitting, by summer it will have broken down enough to use as mulch. is will keep the weeds down and the moisture in.

In a garden centre, I noticed new season roses are in, just waiting for a forever home.

Before you fall for the lovely colourful picture on the label, make sure you have a suitable home ready for it. Dig a hole about 60cm across, save the topsoil and remove about 20cm of subsoil. Mix the topsoil with compost and a few good handfuls of sheep pellets. en put enough of that mixture back in the hole so your rose bush will sit with the lowest branches at about garden level when the hole is lled.

Firm the earth down and water well. Now prune, taking out thin or damaged branches and the remainder to an outside-facing bud. And wait until spring for a miracle to occur!