After the Frosts.

some very pretty flowers still doing their thing. I hate soggy leaves and all the slugs that hide amongst them.
that iris is lovely and such a late flower.

Soggy leaves dangerous under foot, particularly on shiny slabs, OK on bare earth, but not on alpines etc.
Sbgirl, this Iris started flowering 22 October, the stem that is, not this particular bloom.

On the other hand leaves on the beds attract thrushes and blackbirds who love turning them over for what they can find underneath. Nearly all moved from the paths though.

The frosts have discouraged most things haven't they. The fuchsias are quite finished but we have antirhinums still flowering, and a few primroses here and there.

It takes a lot to discourage Calendulas - aren't they brave little souls...

Stera, haven't seen a Thrush in years locally, but masses of male Blackbirds rooting thro the borders, and pots if not covered.
I have swept up all the leaves from the pavement outside our place, as quite slippery.

I heartily agree ...roll on Spring......the frost has taken the tender Salvias, which was to be expected, but not killed those little black slugs, annoying!! and so mild now, with some welcome rain, hopefully more on Saturday!!

Don't want any more rain, thank you very much Dd. Salvia Hotlips has still an odd flower or too. I am also going to leave the withered flowers stalks on the Gaura to help protect them, and cut down in Feb in preparation for spring resprouting.

We have been lucky to see a few thrushes lately Siris, but haven't heard them singing. Maybe we have to wait until spring.
There must have been a lot more rain here than I realised because the river in town was in full spate today and the water meadows looking very wet.

Hello Siris ...
nice to see those welcome splashes of colour in your winter garden.

I love those sedum flowerheads when they dry - so do the birds. Nice little splashes of color still.

You have a lot more colour at this time of year than my garden, that's for sure!!

Thanks Terra, Bathgate, Paul, one week on only the Hesperanthus and Calendula left flowering. I have cut all my (Group C pruning) clematis down by half as so tangled, but will give them a proper prune in Feb, the correct time. The Iris flower collapsed, so cut down. I do hope all my Iris will survive the wet. It is turning out to be a wet winter here.

Roll on Spring Siris.