For the foreseeable future our meetings will be held online via Zoom. You do not have to install this on your computer or tablet – you can join in a meeting directly via the internet. You can also enjoy a sound-only meeting if you have no computer by using your phone and dialling in to the meeting.

We will be joining with Barlaston Village Garden Club and other local groups under the joint title of:-

        Tender Shoots Garden Club Network       www.facebook.com/tsgcn1

(Here we must add our thanks to Indy, Chairman of the Barlaston Garden Club, for setting all this up and organising it.)

Wednesday 6th January at 7-30pm will be a Barlaston Club meeting with the chance for you to join and try out Zoom and ask any questions you may have.

To join the Zoom meetings, please contact Indy via the Tender Shoots Facebook page or the Barlaston Village Garden Club website.

Future dates for your diary:-

Thursday 14th January at 7-30pm         “Gardening on a Budget – Teabags, Bras and Tights”.

                                                                    Speaker   Darren Rudge

Wednesday 20th January at 7-30 pm    “The Secret Life of Trees”

                                                                    Speaker  Simon Gulliver — National Trust.

Wednesday 3rd February at 7-30pm       “Snowdrops and Winter/Spring Bulbs”

                                                                     Speaker    Jim Almond

Wednesday 17th February at 7-30pm     “The Story Behind David Austin Roses”

                                                                    Speaker    Jo Bird

We hope you will join in with this network of clubs and enjoy linking up with like-minded gardeners.

Please contact Indy for any help or advice on joining the Zoom meetings via tsgc@outlook.com.

Members and Friends will all be sent details of future events but do keep up-to date with Stone C & D  via our website.

Tier 4 isn’t the best way to start 2021 but here’s saying a big thank you to all the NHS, care workers, and other essential workers who have kept everything going – and an equally big thank you to the researchers who have managed to produce vaccines that work. Hopefully this coming year will see us (eventually) return to some form of normality.

In the meantime let us celebrate our gardens, the joy and solace they brought over the difficult months of last year and the hope they bring for this year

On the final day of December – and this awful year – most of the gardens are still buried under the snow but a few more evergreen and variegated little shrubs are peeping through

When everything is covered in snow, or is just brown and twiggy, we shouldn’t forget our evergreen shrubs when thinking about colour in our winter gardens. These ones are (once again) to be found in Stonefield Park – and taken before the recent snow.

It’s still snowing but these two little plants are managing to keep their heads up high (for now)

Sorry, forgot yesterday’s post which was this little rock plant – it has been flowering on and off all year round

Today’s garden colour is hidden under a blanket of snow

Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ is really showing off at this time of year

Oh: the Holly and the Ivy . . .

With our very best wishes this Christmas.

Christmas Rose or Hellebore niger

If you were unable to join in the Barlaston Village Garden Club Zoom talk on the Fragrant Garden earlier in the month, or if you missed it, and want to see a recording of the meeting then for a short highlights version click here or for the full version click here .

Spot the ladybird in this Skimmia

Did you find it?