Growing outside

 I cut these 3 yellow roses on Friday, before the storm arrived, I knew they would not survive the winds, they do look pretty, I popped them next to my chair so I can enjoy them. 

This was taken on Friday morning, after a very breezy night we woke to a lovely blue sky, it's not as cold either, won't last for long. This time last year this was all mud as we were in the midst of the refurb. 

Hellebores are waking up, two out of my five plants are in bud, I do love the dark red blooms, the other is a white bloom.  

This bed is looking good, leeks, onions and one cabbage, I did have two rows but only one plant survived. I was hoping we could use it with our Christmas lunch, sadly it won't be big enough.

This second bed has a row of parsnips and loads of over wintering early broad beans, which are growing well, I deliberately planted them close together, hoping for smaller plants with a good harvest.  

The bug house is staying quiet dry, which is pleasing, sadly I won't know who will be sheltering in it, I'm just so glad we have it out. 

I have netted both veg beds as pigeons are a huge issue here, they will try and get onto every bed, I mulched the flower beds and they have trampled over them, most of the plants have died back, they are a huge nuisance. I'm not doing much outside, I water in the greenhouse when needed, I only look through the glass as I don't want to open the door too often, trying to keep the heat in, I don't have another heat source for there. 

Today we have no plans, the rain will stop us going out, I have things to do inside, I want to finish the edging of my brothers blanket, it has become a bit of a chore, so I do little and often, I really need to get it finished. The Christmas cakes require another drink of brandy, I will marzipan them later next week, and decorate the following week, I always do them late as I have to remove the icing and marzipan from my slice of cake, it's easier when they are both still a bit soft.