A bunch of twigs for the first vase of 2015

That came around quickly. I'd given myself time off from gardening over the holiday season, thinking there was still an eternity to do everything that needs doing this winter. Looking at the calendar right now I realise that the eternity has been reduced to a matter of weeks or for some jobs, at least less than three months. 

I've decided that making a to do list is too depressing, so I am just going to focus on the jobs that are most urgent and hope that in that way I'll get everything done. At the moment that's sowing broad beans, another batch of sweet peas and also preparing for planting the new fruit trees that will be delivered next week.

It'll be no surprise that the flowers are few and far between. Even the winter ones like Helleborus and Daphe odora are not yet fully in bloom. The only ones that I could find on my allotment were some Euphorbia oblongata which, if I'm honest, are past their best if you look close up. I combined them with some globe artichoke leaves, curry plant branches and dogwood (Cornus) twigs, making a slightly more architectural bunch then one I would pick mid-summer. So it's mainly a bunch of twigs, but one that nevertheless makes a nice vase for inside.