Spreading out things Christmassy

For friends and family who know me well, they will understand that I normally distance myself as I am somewhat overwhelmed by the overt materialism displayed in shops,on  television, and extravagant consumption egged on by fear of missing out, keeping up with the outside world etc.

For a number of years I have gradually reduced by Christmas Card sending, and this year I did not send a single one.  I was sorely tempted during the early part of the  month to get out the old fountain pen and the cards I have left over in my stationary drawer, but I held firm.  I simply asked my family what they wanted, and was relieved to be given exact wishes, and they all had exactly as asked for.  All I wanted in return simply as a little gesture was one box of quality sugared almonds and that is what I got. Mr S and I just enjoy a quiet day with nice food.

Several months ago we decided to opt for a one night break taking in Blenheim Palace and Oxford.

At Blenheim, we were somewhat disappointed that almost all of the accessible part of the house was completely decked out as if a theme park with a variety of tableaux depicting The Wizard of Oz.

Later we followed the light trail and I was greatly impressed by the efforts to create a wizardry of moving lights and music.  It was more that I have ever experienced and I don't think there would be many in the crowds who had flocked to see these who would not have been thoroughly impressed. However I feel that this is not quite our scene.  We did go one evening to the Bishop's Palace in Wells when Somerset Flutes were playing and had a walk around the grounds where there were some nice lighting. Walking to and from the Palace on a cool winter's night was really lovely, far better than driving miles!

We did enjoy the  exhibition about Winston Churchill at Blenheim Palace, which on our return home gave us the impetus to start to listen to 'Walking with Destiny' by Andrew Thorne.  The narrator Stephen Thorne has an excellent way of portraying with voice the character of Winston Churchill.

We had a fair chunk of the following day in Oxford, which we know fairly well.  However we had never visited The Weston Library.  It was not until we asked about visiting the hall of the Divinity School and were directed to buy the tickets at the Weston Library on Broad Street that we saw there was a special exhibition situated in the library.  Treasured was absolutely fascinating. 

Inside the Hall of Divinity the late gothic stonework was impressive.

We had a little time to spare before the coach pick up time, and we enjoyed our lunch in the cafe in the basement of the Ashmolean Museum, followed viewing of a few of their cabinets.  This was one which I am continually drawn to: Bronze ritual vessels from the Shang dynasty 1200 to 1050 bc.  

Six on Saturday - 20 December 2025

1. Let us start with some Christmassy things.  I was beginning to think that the Mistletoe which I had smeared onto the Amelanchiers a few years ago were males, however this proves otherwise for one of two plants that took.

Horrah!  One of the three berries on the Mistletoe.

2. Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' has increased a little since last year...and each time I look at it I have the Christmas carol 'I saw Three Ships Come Sailing By'  on my mind. They are definitely earlier than last year by at least three weeks.  I took this picture a couple of weeks ago, and already some of the sails are 'furling' themselves.  Something new for next year: I am going to start to grow snowdrops from seed harvested from the garden.

Galanthus Three Ships

3. In the nearby town of Shepton Mallet, there is a monthly market on the last Sunday of the month.  I thought it would be nice to saunter down there at the end of November, in particular to see what my friend Kris has brought for his pop up 'Gardenalia' stall called 'Thomas D'Arcy Garden House'. Kris and Kevin have a great eye for the unusual and quality plants.  As you may or may not know I rather like nice pots,  and I was delighted that there were several lovely pots from a pottery not too far away called Willow Pottery. I particularly like this pot with the 'basket pattern'. I looked up the pottery and may well visit there if I am in that area, meanwhile I am completely happy to buy the occasional one as well as pretty plants from Kris. It wasn't till last week that I planted it up just with things that I had been bringing along and seedlings or divisions from the garden.

Willow Pottery Basket Weave Pot planted up

4. A few weeks ago  the Allium senescens ssp. montanum var. glaucum needed dividing.  Now I need to keep looking after all the sections I potted.  Because I have neither glasshouse, frame or other space away from all the rain, a portable dome needs to work, but it needs to come off when there is no rain to allow air to flow.

I'm so pleased that I decided to put the whole tray in the shed earlier in the week, as we really have had more rain than this compost can cope with.  On the whole I have been completely disappointed by the composts I have bought. (Note to Santa: no I do NOT want a garden frame etc)

5. I wonder whether this rosebud will open if I cut it and bring it indoors?  Rose Munstead Wood with friend still in its bright green habit: should it not have turned into a chrysalis by now? The caterpillar was moved to another plant and I don't mind at all if it snapped up by the robin or blackbird.

6. As the garden is already crowded out with bulbs, had I planted these when they arrived I may well have planted bulbs on top of bulbs had they gone straight into the garden.  I haven't seen Tilipa Sulvestris growing with my own eyes, and I find photographs can be deceptive as to form and size, so when they grow and come into bud I shall a fair idea of these things and know where to plant them.

Tulip Sylvestris

So that is my 'flight' of six from the last three weeks...and a 

Bonus canape to follow the flight of Six on Saturday...seeds received from Cathy with a reminder that there are some lovely squirrels around unlike the scurry of fat grey ones that now claim the garden as theirs. Mr S spent a couple of hours looking for a powerful battery operated water gun, only for me to come to the conclusion that since I do not like guns real or toy, or want a contraption that was mostly plastic, I would simply have to learn to live with the squirrels. 

Wishing all my gardening and other friends a Very Merry Christmas.  I am linking this post in with Jim's and should you have a few moments then there are several worthy posts linking in there to amuse you over this festive period.  It is goodbye from me until next year. 

In a Vase on Monday - 15 December 2025

After clearing the table quickly this afternoon, I took a picture of this little posy even as the light was starting to lessen.  We are not far off the winter solstice and soon the days will be getting longer again. A few years ago, when we first moved to Somerset, one of the IAVOM ladies realised that I was not far away and introduced herself. Since then Alison and I meet up several times a year, and today Alison came to lunch.

Posy for Alison

Can you believe it that I felt it was more important to pick a little posy for our lunch table than it was to get changed!  Anyway I apologised as Alison stepped through the front door, and she graciously allowed me a couple of minutes to change.

In the posy are five early flowering snowdrops all from one clump, some pale pink and darker cerise cyclamen coum, for foliage I have used some Pittosporum Tom Thumb, and some of the lovely soft green leaves of Corydalis ochroleuca which self seeds gently around the garden.  I first saw this plant in Alison's garden and it was from her that I got my first plant. At present I can't locate the label for these snowdrops but what I can say I haven't had these ones flowering so early before. 

I like stones, and at a local Calligraphy exhibition picked up these three beautifully decorated stones,  even though they have been on the table for several months, because they are suitable coloured, they are my nod to Christmas decorations

I had made a soup new to me and also a Pecan Pie which I have never made before. .  I love the flavour of pecans, and also maple syrup, and after two elegant servings you can see what is left.

On flower themed books, I have enjoyed The Book of Garden Flowers with the artwork by Angie Lewin and the text by Christopher Stocks.

On a more serious note, but one I would also recommend is Stuck Monkey: The deadly planetary cost of the things we love by James Hamilton-Paterson.  This book was on display when I last went to my local library.  I thought this would be a book I would dip into, and skim or speed read sections, but how wrong was I.  It was a page turner and an eye opener!  I was half way to understanding many of the aspects James Hamilton-Paterson was covering, but I learnt so much more.

Stuck Monkey  by James Hamilton-Paterson

I am linking in with Cathy the creator of In a Vase on Monday. 

The addition of books is just my own idea: a way of my keeping a record but by no means to I show all the books I read!

 

Flowers from the garden at the start of December 2025 - IAVOM

During the hot and very dry summer it was impossible to imagine that well ahead of time late winter or early spring flowers might start making an early apperance.

Just after lunch today, I popped out in the wet windy weather to see what had survived the recent few days.

Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' and feathery greenery from the Corydalis  ochroleuca are there to provide a green foil to the snowdrops, Cyclamen coum, and Jasminum nudiflorum. This vase could very easily be built up in January or February but by then the Aster Monch would be missing. I believe this snowdrop to be Galanthus Natalie Garton: it is flowering in the same place as the named one was planted.  The drops are quite large on this snowdrop but had not flowered this early in previous years.

My very first entry for IAVOM was probably in 2015 but it has only been in more recent years, with the advance of technology, that Cathy has organised annual zoom meetings. Cathy who started this weekly get together years ago called 'In a Vase on Monday' organised a zoom meeting yesterday, when some of us joined in from very different climatic regions.  We talked about the best doers in the garden, and in the second half another Cathy showed us lovely pictures of her garden focusing on grasses.

I am linking this post to Cathy's blog, and that is the place where several others link in.  New comers are welcome of course should you feel like joining in.