bright and beautiful

The latter, in fact, can be a bit of a blessing – hiding the unsightly beneath a coat of white.

Sadly, not many garderens are prepared for winter; they tend to shut up shop between November and March.

From the last mowing of the lawn until the first sight of the daffodils, their gardening world goes into hibernation. Winter is a time to stay warm, sit in front of the fire and keep the telly turned on.

Oh ye of little faith. Winter is a time to enjoy; a season to get out and about in the garden because there are many plants which make it their job to brighten up the darkest months of every dark year. To ignore them is to insult them.

It's not just bulbs which can light up the drab days, although the first green tips of the very early flowerers are already showing through in more sheltered parts of my own garden.

There are trees with wonderful, coloured bark, gorgeous berries, scented flowers, winter-warming foliage.

If you don't believe me, see what the likes of RHS Harlow Carr, at Harrogate, and Dunham Massey, just over the border in Cheshire, have to offer with where their dedicated winter gardens –acres of plants which actually thrive in the cold and wet and icy.

Great for ideas for the smaller garden.

So, consider hellebores (the Christmas rose being H niger), corkscrew hazel (Corylus avenella contorta), the scarelet willow – if you have room (Salix alba Chermesina), dogwoods like Cornus alba Eligentisima, junipers with their wonderful array of coloured needles, elaegnus, viburnums, firethorn (Pyracantha) with its brilliant berries, the beautiful little Cyclamen coum, witch hazel (Hamamelis).....

The list goes on and on.

We have to live winter, so enjoy it to the fullest.