my top 9 of 2017

What a super selection SBG. Your mum would be thrilled with Victoria.

It's plants that have associations with a loved one that can be so special, even if they are often seen. Love the Turkscap Lily.

Its a great selection and its specially nice to have an emphasis on the colder seasons when we need cheering up.

I loved these...that ribes sounds lovely! Im surprised your Hesperanthus is still flowering, mine finished early November when the frosts came. Thar Lilium martagon is just heavenly! I must try to find some of that colour. One of my favourite plants.

Loving your selection, I do appreciate it was difficult to narrow down to just 9! !the Lillie's are beautiful, such colour! we bought the Ribes this year, was rather worried when it lost all its leaves in the summer, but looks very happy now! the Crocus are particularly pretty...many thanks for taking the time to write this blog.

I really enjoyed doing it dd2.
All the Hesperanthus are still in flower but they are looking a little forlorn now. but any splash of colour is worth it at this time of year.
I have many plants with family links be it the name such as Clematis montana 'Elizabeth' and C 'Victoria' [my daughters.

I often wonder what my mum would have made of my girls. Elizabeth has vague memories as she was 3 when my mum died. But photos and stories of her are probably the true memories.

it was so difficult doing this but I tried to chose from different seasons otherwise it could have been all spring etc. I didn't include any ferns or hostas either but don't they make your heart sing when the croziers start to unfurl and the hosta buds start to swell?

A lovely, loving selection.

A very nice selection Seaburngirl, especially the Snowflake which seems to earn its keep well.
Your Ribes is unusual.

SBG, could I ask do you cut your Hesperanthus back in spring? I'm never quite sure what to do with mine when it's finished flowering.

Really gorgeous photos of you favourites, lovely to see.

A really nice selection you have made, SB! ? I'd also be very hard pushed to make a list of my 10 favourite plants as well!

Waddy I just cut the flowering stems back and pull off any dead leaves. I pot up any bits that pull off and they root really easily.

Thank you!

Lovely selection Seaburn, it is hard to choose, I did like the reference to your mum's favourites and family names, I think we do tend to choose plants we remember growing up with, they can have very special memories for us, its always nice to think back, I always wonder if mum is watching me, she loved her garden and mine and I know I have been influenced a lot by what I can picture in my old home especially the perennials...

Lovely selection Sbg. My mum was a rosaholic if that can be a word. Unfortunately I do not know the names of any of them. She grew annuals like asters and pansies but her garden was her time out from the family. When I started gardening I could not wait to share with my children. She did not approve of cutting flowers for the house but made an exception for what she called 'friendship flowers', sweet peas. We were always delivering fragrant bouquets to neighbours or anyone she felt needed a boost.