Just about made it! Couldn’t let the day go by without contributing a last vase to Cathy’s beautiful meme, a last vase for 2018 that is. 😉 While winter has truly arrived in our Swiss mountain village, it’s still very mild and colourful in our French garden. The past two days were wet and grey but we shan’t complain as it has been far too dry for far too long. Today’s vase features hazel catkins and a twig of Jasminum nudiflorum about to burst into flower. Choisya ternata and Elaeagnus are still covered in scented flowers, and my Dahlia imperialis and Tetrapanax have been flowering for the first time this year – so exciting! Not long now and the days will be getting longer again. Treetops, our little hideaway, is getting into a festive mood. Thank you so much for keeping me company throughout the year, for all your lovely comments and for inspiring me. I wish you all a peaceful xmas and hope you’ll be able to enjoy a proper break, away from it all. Don’t forget to check out the vases of my blogger friends over at Rambling in the garden.
Gerade noch geschafft! Ich konnte den Tag nicht vorbeigehen lassen, ohne eine letzte Vase für 2018 beizusteuern. Der Winter hat unser kleines Schweizer Bergdorf schon fest im Griff, aber in unserem französischen Garten ist es noch sehr bunt und mild. Die letzten zwei Tage waren nass und grau, aber ich beklage mich nicht, da es viel zu lange nicht geregnet hat. Für die heutige Vase habe ich Haselnusskätzchen und einen Zweig Winterjasmin (Jasminum nudiflorum) gepflückt, der kurz vor der Blüte steht. Choisya ternata und Elaeagnus sind noch immer voller duftender Blüten. Dahlia imperialis und Tetrapanax haben heuer zum ersten Mal geblüht – so aufregend! Nicht mehr lange und die Tage werden wieder länger. In Treetops, unserem „halben“ Baumhaus herrscht schon Weihnachtsstimmung. Vielen Dank dafür, dass ihr mich das Jahr über begleitet und inspiriert habt und für eure lieben Kommentare. Ich wünsche euch allen frohe Festtage und hoffe, ihr könnt euch richtig entspannen. Schaut euch bei Rambling in the garden die hübschen Vasen meiner Bloggerfreunde an.
Annettes Garten / Annette's Garden 
The glowing photos of your holiday-decorated porch are truly splendid, Annette. And I know many people who’d be very jealous over your flowering Tetrapanax and Dahlia imperialis, myself included! I hope you thoroughly enjoy the Christmas and New Year holidays in your Swiss hideaway!
Thanks a lot, Kris, up to now they never got to flowering stage because of the frost but they’ve been beautiful this year, the Tetrapanax still is. Best wishes to you too 🙂
Those glowing pictures are an absolute delight, Annette – they really convey a warmth and conviviality. But then again, you do take such wonderful photos! My very best wishes to you both
Thanks a lot not least for making me do these things – I greatly enjoy it 🙂
I don’t think I have to twist your arm much though… 😊
Your hideaway looks so gorgeous. I love the warm glowing light and the fairy lights, and the warm colours of the wood.
So sweet of you, Ali, thanks very much, it’s nice to have a magical place like that 🙂
Awww, I want a hideway like that for Christmas! Or I would at least like to rent it for some time away from it all. 😉 Looks like a dream, absolutely marvellous. With the snow and cold that we’ve been having here in Southern Germany your flower pictures look almost unreal. it is all pine, mistletoe and holly around here. One of my Helleborus plants in the garden had buds when I checked on her last, but with the snow I cannot see anything now. Well, it seems to be getting warmer – we’ll probably have spring temperatures again by the time Christmas rolls around. Thank you for your lovely card, Annette! My snail mails is probably still on its way to France. I do hope you will get it before Christmas.
Much love and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Doris
If you come and see us you can sleep in Treetops, Doris, our friends do in summer and love it as the owls and bats swirl around at night, it has a rather wild feel! Thanks so much for your ‚Wundertüten‘ letter, what a lovely surprise. 🙂 We’ll be in the middle of winter again before too long so I shall enjoy the mild spell for now. Merry christmas, hug for Wastl xx
Gorgeous atmospheric photos. How wonderful to have flowers on Dahlia imperialis. I grew one from seed years ago and though it lives in the greenhouse it never blooms. It grows so tall that its head sticks out of the window and gets frosted.
Hi Liz, guess you probably have to wait longer for flowers when you grown them from seed. I bought a small plant and was thrilled to see three flowers this year but only because frost was so late. Alas, it’s always a delight to see the unexpected so fingers crossed for yours. Happy christmas to you and the pianist xx
It looks so cosy in your hideaway Annette… the perfect setting for some Glühwein! 😉 Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones! 🎄🎄🎄
I’m not a glühwein sort of a person but I like my chai latte 😀 wishing you both a happy christmas and good luck with all your projects xx
Oh Annette these photos are just delightful! Thank you so much for sharing them … you have such a wonderful eye! It’s pouring here and we have been told it will be raining on Christmas Day .. the plants and trees will love it! Merry Christmas lovely
Ah, thanks for all your kindness and support throughout the year, dear Julie, your comments always make me happy. 🙂 Mild here too and the soil is well saturated! Big hug & again bonnes fêtes xx
Oh that looks such a cosy and warm sanctuary Annette. It has your special touch of magic. Wishing you and the Monsieur a Joyeux Noël and happy gardening in 2019! xxx
Many happy returns, dear Anna, looking forward to seeing you again in 2019 xx