Under cover

A drier week, but several frosty nights, so a decision had to be made about the more tender plants.  The blue-leaved succulent (echeveria?) that spent the summer in the big pot was potted on into something smaller some weeks ago, and put into the cold frame, but the frost prompted me to bring it indoors.  Until I get a greenhouse it'll have to overwinter indoors, so it's currently on the kitchen windowsill (taking up most of the space).  Today I removed the purple spiky thing (phormium? cordyline?) which has been forming a very effective backdrop in the pot by the patio doors, potted it up and brought it indoors too.  I've no idea how hardy it is, and it was in a very sheltered place, but it has grown well this year since I got it at the plant sale and I'd be sorry to lose it.  It has gone into the top bathroom.  While I was at it, I also removed the purple osteospermum from the same pot, potted that up too and put it in the cold frame; it spent last winter in there, so I hope it'll be ok this winter too.

The frost has seen off the last of the nerines, and the marigolds.  The only flowers now are the real winter ones - winter jasmine, viburnums and the hellebores under the dining room window.  Still nothing on the winter honeysuckle; the plant probably needs pruning as the wood is mostly quite old.  A cutting or two might be good insurance, unless I can find another layering where a branch has rooted into the ground.  A good sign on the viburnum that is dying back, though - it has produced a well-grown shoot from the base.

A few more bargain bulbs potted up today.  Some Super Parrot tulips (white with yellow-green backs), with a couple of cuttings of yellow ivy on top; the ivy came over the wall from next door, and since the neighbours have dug it out on their side I've tried to root a couple of pieces.  They seem ok so far.  Also a pot of paperwhite narcissi (Ziva), in the hope that they won't flower while we're away from home.  The third bargain hasn't gone in yet: red species tulips (linifolia), which will go around the aster, chrysanthemums and red helianthemum once I've finished weeding round them.  There's still time to plant them, as long as it isn't too frosty next weekend.

All the apples have gone from the tree, so the fieldfare and green woodpecker will have to move on elsewhere.  There are still some apples indoors, and the damaged ones go out on the patio for the blackbirds, who are becoming quite trusting.  Besides the robin, dunnocks and sparrows, a couple of chaffinches came down yesterday and a wren was about today.  We used to get flocks of finches, but not for a few years now; today there was a flock of what looked like finches up in the field maple next door, but I couldn't make out their markings.  It would be good to see more of them around.  There was a single goldfinch in the garden today, and the marsh tit was on the seed feeder - like the nuthatch, throwing seeds out until it found its favourite ones.  Must get better seed next time.