HAPPY CHRISTMAS

This morning, whilst the kettle was making its usual racket and frost covered the garden outside, a story of botanical festive joy unfolded on the living room windowsill. My young Buddleja colvilei had produced some beautiful flowers for me as a Christmas gift. Deep crimson/purple, pendulous, quite wonderfully bell-shaped, and rarely seen in gardens. I kept it indoors as I was worried it wasn’t hardy enough yet, but I was also unsure if it would survive in the dry warmth of the house. Anyway, here it is, basking in the low winter sun, offering a single bloom—an active flare of colour as the other Buddleias outside remain dormant. Buddleia colvilei flowers have no fragrance whatsoever, but they are very generously sized flowers in comparison to other Buddleias, making it particularly interesting. Something less common but radiant is such a wonderful surprise for Christmas. I might consider other slightly rare and less hardy Buddleias as possible future house plants if this one continues to be a success. One with scented flowers would be good, I’ll start looking into that for next year. Talking of next year, I have also put in a big order today with Farmer Gracy for next years summer flowering perennial plants, and some of my daffodils are starting to pop up. So that’s it, it is officially starting again.

Happy Christmas