This year is the first year I’ve really paid attention to the garden. To say that it’s possible to take for granted the beauty that is under your nose is quite an understatement. The covid pandemic, a change of career and perspective has sent me diving into the garden. From what I’ve read and heard, I think this has been a common story for a lot of people during the pandemic. The garden can provide so much solace, hope and beauty. 3 things we’ve needed much more in the last 12 months than ever before. I started nurturing my own section of garden in the spring last year and have been studying herbs growing through the summer and into the winter.
When my mum told me she was out weeding the Hellebores a few weeks ago I paid little attention. I didn’t really know what a Hellebore was other than it had flowers budding and was growing well in the UK cold. It’s been so so cold here in West Wales the last few weeks!
I decided to go out into the garden and pick a February inspired bouquet and much to my delight, I found some beautiful Hellebore flowers, Daffodils! and an array of beautiful winter foliage. I especially love the dried Hydrangea flowers still covering the bush and the beautiful rich red of the dog wood stems.
Unfortunately, the Hellebores didn’t last very well in my bouquet, but when my mum produced this bowl of water with the beautiful flowers floating in it, I realised this was the perfect solution to display them! Mum mixed some of the buds and blooms from our Camellia and I think the results are just perfect!
Today I decided to go out and photograph the Hellebore flowers in the garden and I found these cute fairies hanging out there. My late Nanna used to collect fairies and lots of these have ended up in our garden. The sun was shining and the light was so beautiful for a mini photo-shoot. As a wedding photographer, it’s quite a novel experience photographing a still subject. The experience was beautifully peaceful.
Now I’m on the hunt for some new winter flowers to add to the garden for next year! Oh how I love the changing seasons we get here in the UK.
Please leave a comment below if you have any favourite winter flowering plants we can try!