The last day of January already! It has been a very wet start to the year so less has been achieved than I would like. A peony bed has been extended ready for more planting and some heavy duty pruning has helped tidy up the courtyard. Fuschia ‘Hawkshead’ is a lovely dainty white hardy fuschia. It is now about seven feet tall and taking up considerable space. Cutting into branches that were easily four inches diameter I could only muse that it seems like yesterday that I planted it! I have also removed a Holboellia and a lot of ivy from a stone wall. These are about the only jobs I can do with the ground so wet. I should have kept on top of the ivy which has now become a big job and the Holboellia had outgrown its welcome several years ago already. Now my problem is that I have a huge sodden bonfire heap too wet to light! But the snowdrops are in flower (this one is ‘Bess’) and the first daffodils coming out. More than anything daffodils raise my spirits and turn my thoughts to Spring.