I took a rare day off from coding yesterday, to have a walk around the Hillier Gardens. The weather was a bit dreary but as soon as I entered the gardens my spirits were lifted!  Just behind the entrance buildings the winter garden area was looking great – all the classic elements were there, coloured stem dogwoods and willows, white birches, plenty of evergreen foliage and lots more. Probably the highlight for me were the flowering witch hazels, some with that fabulous fragrance. There is also a even larger collection of these over at the other side of the gardens.  And then of course there are the snowdrops and aconites.  Well worth a February visit.

There was much maintenance activity going on around the long borders, which I understand are being re-modelled and rejuvenated. Something to look forward to later in the year.