Surprise in the winter garden: flowering Christmas roses (Helleborus niger).  They were hiding so when the leaves were cut away, there were masses of flowers at every stage of development.  We will take the large pot into the conservatory to keep the flowers clean  and dry and sprinkle on a few slug pellets.  The plant is one that Jean from Lesmahagow (Corbie's mother) gave us maybe 40 years ago.  it has been divided a few times and top dressed with rich compost now and again.  They used to flower in January but because of global warming ..... 

The sun actually came out today and flooded through the top landing window to strike the Pelargonium there in a pot.  I got cuttings from Angharad this summer.  she says it is Lord Bute and I think she is right.  Just look at that rich colour!