It’s always good to have something to look at through these short and dark days, here are just a few of the things that I grow that are still going strong in December.

Stipa tenuissima - wispy looking grass that is getting more golden as winter comes on and moves gracefully in the wind. It has a pleasing fountain shape too.

Penstemon - I grow two different types purple flowering ‘Garnet’ and red ‘Maurice Gibb’ and they are still in flower with buds still to come. These plants really seem to keep going through all the cold and wet weather.

Rosa ‘Charlotte’ and ‘William Morris’  - These are ‘English’ Roses from David Austin and not only are there still flowers on both of them but they seemed to be growing until late in November.

Hellebores - I have some hybrid hellebores that were from a plant fair and so have no names but they are covered in buds and bright green foliage. I can’t wait for the flowers to come and cheer up the shady area where I planted them.

Box - evergreen box is often listed as a winter plant and the ability to shape it by clipping means that the shapes take on more importance in the garden as other plants die off for the winter.

Sage - evergreen sage is still looking good in my back garden and it looks even better with frost all over the grey-green leaves. Handy for soups too.

There is disagreement between gardeners between growing food crops in open ground or using a series of defined beds with paths in-between. I opted for the beds and permanent paths. I find it is easier for me to work out my crop rotation with a series of defined beds and woodchip paths make keeping my boots clean in winter wet easier.

I started some work on Saturday morning at the plot and remembered why the beds were such a good idea, needed to put in my onion sets I had a quick look at last years rotation plan and decided that they could go in the bed that held Cauliflowers previously. It just needed a loosen with a fork, raking, and then planting.

Working on the bed from the path also meant my boots stayed mostly mud-free.

Next on the planting list, garlic cloves.