Jo's News and Views No1 January 2026

Hello Everyone 

I hope that starting the year with Storm Chandra doesn't mean that's how the weather intends to continue?? We had a sprinkling of snow but as usual escaped the worst of the weather. The wet weather has meant that the gardeners have had to choose their jobs accordingly each day. However they have made amazing progress in the Rock Garden. The Snowdrop Sale was held on Saturday 31st January and the sun broke through the clouds bathing everything in weak Winter sunshine so the garden looked lovely. There are so many Snowdrops around the garden for visitors to enjoy that it was a very successful day. 

At the beginning of the month I visited the garden and took photos of nearly every tree there. I love how the sunshine can penetrate the branches in winter showing the most marvellous silhouettes. The Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant Redwood, at the beginning of the drive was no exception, photo 1. Just along the drive is this Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis, the Mount Omei rose, photo 2. This rose has red stems and very fierce looking thorns that I don't think any of us would argue with. 

Then onto the main event of January, the Snowdrops. They are everywhere you look around the garden. Here are some under the Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena', the Witch Hazel 'Jelena'. The coppery-orange flowers are small but so beautiful, photo 3. In front of the Old Conservatory the snowdrops there are joined by Cyclamen, photos 4 and 5.

Walking down to visit the Rock Garden I was able to admire the show of Snowdrops and Crocus in the Alpine Meadow, photo 6. In and around the Rock Garden there are Snowdrops everywhere, photo 7. They even show up in the reflections on the water of the main pond there. It was lovely to see the new paths in place, photo 8. Although they seem to stand out at the moment I am sure that in a little while they will soften and look as though they have been there a life time. I also like the way the old rocks are covered in moss now, they compliment the Snowdrops beautifully, photo 9. For a moment I thought I'd discovered a new Snowdrop and then realised that the flower was going over, photo 10. I quite like the idea of a flower with dark red tips, however I'm sure the Galanthophiles out there would be horrified! Back on New River Lawn I stopped to admire this lovely Hellebore, photo 11. My favourite combination of pink and green. 

On to the Glasshouses that I visited earlier in the month. The displays there are picture-perfect, photos 12 and 13. This very pretty Begonia 'Chantilly Lace' caught my eye, photos 14 and 15. It was so delicate and covered in hundreds of tiny hairs. Nearby was the more robust Nematanthus gregarius, known as the Clog plant or Goldfish plant, photo 16. I am not sure the flowers resemble either but who am I to argue, I just think the name is wonderful. Also here is one of my favourites and a plant I am sure most of us have owned at some time or other, the Crassula ovata, known as the Jade plant or Money plant, photo 17. I am envious of the flowers which appear on the plant as it gets older. As mine are still young I will have to wait a while for flowers. 

Walking past the Peach House I enjoyed the Snowdrop display there. The Snowdrops have white Crocus and Anemones amongst them, photos 18 and 19. In the border along the Hollow Lawn there are Aconites and Pulmonaria for everyone to enjoy, photo 20. 

I was too busy looking at all the beauty of the flowers in the garden so failed to notice any fauna so I am using the birds in my own garden this month. I have a couple of Dunnocks that visit my garden regularly, photo 21. They are a delightful little bird previously known as Hedge Sparrows. Another regular is the Blue Tit, photo 22, and more recently I have seen a couple of Chaffinches joining the Goldfinches to eat the seed that has fallen from the feeders, photo 23. The male is in the centre and female to the left. Then one of my favourites, the Red Kite, photo 24. Once persecuted to the brink of extinction but now a regular over most parts of the Country. I saw this one whilst driving to Myddelton House.

I hope you have enjoyed my wander around the garden and that you have your own Snowdrops at home to enjoy too. 

Best wishes