January skies and the first flowers.

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Fiery_Scottish_sunrise_January_2025 — Fiery sunrise over icy hills. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

A very belated happy new year to you. This month has flown by. All the festivities of a few weeks ago seem like a long time away already.

It’s a quiet time out of doors in terms of gardening. The weather has been quite kind so far. Little snow and rain, some stormy winds, and some very cold nights, but nothing extraordinary. The days are slowly drawing out again and there have been some beautiful sunrises.

Early_morning_sunrise_January_2025 — End of the night, beginning of the day. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_sunrise_January_2025 — Sun up on a chilly day. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Whilst there have been lots of lovely starts to the day, I haven’t seen much happening in the skies at the other end of the day, apart from this sunset which is punctuated with puffs of white cloud which look like plumes of steam.

New_year_Scottish_sunset — Early new year sunset. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

There have been many postings on social media of the Northern Lights here in central Scotland. It usually means getting up in the middle of the night to look, and to be honest, when it’s so cold, I am not motivated enough to do it. However, earlier in the month, there was an alert that the lights were visible at a much more sociable time. So I ventured outside in the back garden on a wonderfully clear, crisp night and saw…….absolutely nothing! However, pointing my camera at various points in the sky, the lens picked up this faint purple glow in the north-east sky. To the eye, the sky was almost black except for the stars.

Pink_purple_glowing_night_sky_January_2025 — Purple night sky. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

To finish this short post, there are a few flowery delights in the garden at the moment. I just hope the Periwinkle, Rhododendrons and snowdrop survive any cold weather that’s heading out way in the next few weeks.

Scottish_garden_flowers_January_2025 — Early bloomers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Have a good rest of the month and I’ll be back posting some time in February. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

February flurries and flowers

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Snowy_Scottish_garden_landscape_in_February_2022 — February snow flurries. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

We’ve certainly had a lot of weather here in central Scotland since my last post. Sunshine, strong winds, heavy rain, snow and frosts. Yet I am happy to report that the garden is slowly coming to life; the birds are feeding constantly and singing ever louder, and at times it does feel that spring is on its way.

Sunrise_snow_and_frost_in_February_2022_in_a_Scottish_garden — February sunshine, snow and frost. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

This is the month when the first proper spring flowers appear in the garden, the snowdrops. There are a few clumps here and there already, but towards the end of the month is when they will really takeover. At the moment, many are still in bud, with just one or two opened up to see the tiny green markings on the inside petals. So pretty and delicate, yet strong enough to stand up to all sorts of weather.

Scpottish_garden_snowdrops — Snowdrops in the shade and in the sun. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Another sign of spring for me is when the crocus appear. I just managed to capture these beauties before they got crushed by a heavy downpour of rain. I hope they bounce back again.

Yellow_and_white_crocus_February_2022 — The first crocus of 2022. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The winter heathers started flowering at the very end of last year and are now looking very healthy, adding splashes of pink and white to the flower beds.

Scottish_white_winter_heathers — Pink and white winter heathers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The first Hellebore is fully open now with others not far behind. The Hebe that started flowering in December is still producing blooms. I am delighted to see the first bright red shoots of rhubarb up and coming, promising delicious rewards later in the year, and the deep pink Rhododendron is slowly opening up – a bit later than in other years.

Scottish_garden_blooms_and_shoots_February_2022 — Blooms and shoots: Hellebore, Hebe, Rhubarb and Rhododendron. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

There are more storms and wintry weather on the horizon for the UK in the week ahead so perhaps it is just as well that the garden isn’t too far advanced at the moment. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and my best wishes to you.

Golden November

November 27, 2021November 27, 2021 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Golden_yellow_Japanese_maple_tree_under_blue_sky — Japanese maple tree lit up in November sunshine. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s been a late Autumn here in central Scotland. The leaves stayed on the trees longer than I anticipated and the weather has been fine. Most of the month has been mild with glorious blue-sky days which highlighted the golden tones in the garden a few days ago. Fortunately I got to the Japanese Maple tree before the rain fell and captured the rich yellow leaves before they were washed off the branches. The next day, the paths and lawns were covered in a leafy carpet.

Golden_leaved_Japanese_maple_before_and_after_the_rain — Japanese Maple before and after the rain. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Fallen_yellow_Acer_leaves — Golden leafy carpet. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Accompanying the fair-weather days have been glowing sunrises and blazing sunsets. Both come and go with speed but are truly spectacular if you are in the right place at the right time. The front of the house faces the sun rising over the Ochil Hills, then in the back garden, a few hours later, you are able to see the sun setting.

2_Scottish_sunrises_over_Ochil_Hills_Perthshire — Sun-up in mid November. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

2_spectacular_November_sunsets_from_a_Scottish_garden — Blazing November sunsets. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

In the garden, here and there, signs of life continue. Some of the plants and shrubs have been confused by the warm weather this month and there are unseasonal second and third flowerings taking place.

Unseasonal_flowering_of_a_Welsh_poppy_and_Sharon_rose — A November Welsh poppy and Sharon Rose. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

3_lavender_plants_in_flower_in_November — November lavender, Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I cleared out the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago and picked off the last few tomatoes. They are now ripening indoors. I also harvested my first basket of greens; they haven’t done that well and got badly attacked by caterpillars, but there is enough for a few meals. A few more baby purple carrots as well.

End_of_season_tomatoes_and_homegrown_cabbages — Last of the tomatoes, some baby carrots and the first of the greens. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s been a wonderful autumn for fungus of all kinds. I have seen so many images on social media, I never realised that there were so many different mushrooms and toadstools out there. Each year, to varying degrees, this bracket fungus grows on a old tree stump in the garden. I think this year it has surpassed itself. I love the arch of colours on each piece.

Rainbow_bracket_fungs_growing_on_an_old_tree_stump — Rainbow bracket fungus. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’m going to finish my post with something a little bit festive. Most of the fruiting trees around and about the garden are covered in berries this year, and the holly is no exception. The red berries seem to get picked off first leaving the yellow variety behind. Perhaps they taste different? No matter, I am happy for them to remain on the tree to give a great splash of colour to the garden and look magnificent against a blue sky. Until next time, take care and keep safe 🙂