Well, today I haven’t been outside once and am now feeling sluggish and tired. Silly really because it was a sunny and not too windy day and I was mildly tempted to go to the nursery but after I’d had a glass of wine at lunchtime it was not possible to drive there. And if you think I’m going to walk there you have another think coming!!

Yesterday we were in sunny Eaton Socon in Cambridgeshire at my parents, where we were caught up in all the usual Christmassy things. But I did notice that there were two everlasting wallflowers flowering in profusion (although one was a bit lop-sided due to the strong winds on Monday). One was E. Bowles Mauve and the other a deep crimson flowered shrub which is nameless. Also flowering was a recently planted Hebe ‘Purple Queen’ which is looking good in the front border. And for one-upmanship its a plant that no-one else has in the street.