In a Vase on Monday - Evergreens?

Yesterday it stopped raining for a whole day....

After breakfast we had a fine walk along the local hills and onto the Somerset Levels, all along the small lane, during the whole time passed by only a couple of cars and a handful of cyclists.  It was cold and slightly breezy and we were well dressed for the conditions.

On the way back I grabbed three stems of the wild ivy from the hedgerow, and then as I took off my shoes by the front door, came face to face with the ideal companions...

Here is the arrangement set up to catch the sunshine in the conservatory...

And here it is again in the sitting room..with a little escaped Christmas Mouse who had to stay out as the room seemed so bare..a few of the dried up flower heads from ivy in the Christmas arrangement
too, to form a nice little motif.  When I was young my mother's advice to me was always buy presents you would like to receive.  Sadly that piece of advice has its problems: you sometimes want to keep the presents!!  So when I found a lovely funny little Christmas mouse to give to my Daughter in Law, I knew straight away that there would be problems.  To avoid that two were purchased.

With a little shelter by the front door, the Loropetaum Fire Dance has been in continuous flower for several weeks.  For the present it is in a large pot enjoying winter protection, until we get more sorted out with the garden landscaping.

The third Evergreen, in the sense that it is not deciduous, but 'ever purply red and gold blotched' is the Pseudowintera colorato Red Leopard a New Zealand native.  It is at present by the front door where it sits again with some protection and looks very smart when the sun is shining off its shiny leathery leaves.

When I first bought the Red Leopard in Warwickshire, I found out that it is used in New Zealand in cookery...now that is a challenge for the next few months.

This week Cathy who leads us on this weekly quest to find something interesting in the garden, and write about it, has been inspired to explain a little of her character...the ability to defer gratification.  There are several parallels in our character....having enjoyed my small box of very tasty marzipan delicacies, I have decided to put away my box of turkish delight till Easter.  Mr S wanted to be generous....so when I said one box of something sweet and delightful, he bought two!!!