A Successful Day!

Colin-the-Cat enjoying the warmth of GH2.

I am half-way through a more involved blog but that's been about two weeks in the making and I would rather get these photos published because today was a very successful day, in all manner of ways.

This is has been the first day in weeks that I have felt generally "okay".  It has been a dispiriting few months (as you are aware) so coupled with some decent sunshine and warm temperatures (for April) it has been positive.

I have not driven for a couple of weeks and of course as soon as I want to venture forth the road by our cottage has been closed off whilst cable of some sort has been laid.  Naturally the utilities companies and council and highways agency do not seem to have the wherewithal to communicate with residents about this kind of thing.  Subsequently it has been very frustrating for everyone - not knowing which roads are closed off, which diversions to follow.... or even if there are any! Complete joke.  

ANYWAY, we managed to get out of Winchcombe and with our middle-aged heads on went to our local garden centre - Gotherington Nurseries.  I have done some planning and a little bit of research (with the emphasis on little), and have also been mindful of the [terrible] weather and the usual warnings about not being too hasty to plant anything tender outside, and to be careful of seed-sowing optimism.  So, today I put some of those ideas into action and we spent a bit of time and more-than-expected money on quick-fixes for some spring-and-summer colour.  I also bought more seeds as I do prefer to grow vegetables and herbs from seed.  I think things seem to taste better if you can declare  loudly "I grew that!".  Such a show-off!

However, we did splash-out on a large shrub and with some re-jigging of other plants and movement of pots and bird-bath, it looks great!

So, introducing a "loropetalum Chinese (black pearl)" - part of the Hamamelidaceae family (and related to witch hazel).  It is sometimes called a Chinese fringe flower. 

Gardener's World comments upon its "showy evergreen foliage and bright coloured flowers. .... highly ornamental – its crinkled oval leaves are borne in shades of red, pink, or purple, and its colourful, late winter flowers have a light fragrance".