Anne Swithinbank's Gardening Year
Amateur Gardening|December 9,2017

As 2017 draws to a close, AG favourite Anne reflects on some of her biggest successes – and failures – of the past 12 months, and shares her wish list for next year.

Anne Swithinbank's Gardening Year
Anne Swithinbank's Gardening Year

A TOUR of the garden, even in December, always brings surprises. Evergreens bounce to the fore and we’re glad of spotty laurel Aucuba japonica ‘Mr. Goldstrike’, glossy, red-berried, almost spineless Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Camelliifolia’ and stands of bamboo. Viburnum twigs emit their heliotrope perfume and finches flit impatiently, waiting for me to go back indoors so they can carry on raiding the seed heads of evening primrose and sunflower. It’s a good month to reflect on the previous gardening season; to bask in the triumphs and laugh at disasters.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.