Duck or grouse

The entrance to the corner of the garden known as The Dump (where reside the compost bins and other things that are better not seen) is between the thicket of young damson trees - probably suckers from the plum tree rootstock - and a stout post which once supported a trellis.  The post is a bit redundant now - the trellis is long gone and the necessary cover is now provided by a rampant honeysuckle - but for a while it was also supporting the trunk of one of the damsons that was leaning across the entrance.  Recently the trunk has slipped down off this support, however, and it seems to be getting lower and lower; I now have to duck to be sure of getting through without hitting my head on it.  A saw will be called for in the New Year; and I can do some coppicing of the hazels in that corner while I'm at it.

The weather has reverted to type for this time of year, although milder than usual: much cloud, some fog, mostly dank.  There have been too many non-gardening things to do recently anyway for me to do a lot out there.  The holly berries have all gone from the tree; there are still some cotoneaster berries for the birds, and they are still enjoying the windfall apples (lots still on the tree, attracting two mistle thrushes as well as the fieldfares, and the pheasants are quite partial to them too).  The fat balls have been visited by a number of blue and great tits, and a family of long-tailed tits stopped by one day too.  A song thrush has been about as well.

Autumn leaves, winter jasmine, spring primroses!

The winter shrubs are mostly doing well, although there's not much sign of flowers on the winter honeysuckle this year.  The young Mahonia 'Winter Sun' is looking good; it's the first year it has done much.  The winter jasmine is still providing cut stems for the house; and the primroses underneath are also in flower, a promise of spring to come!

Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'

And some colour for the porch