As we enter a new year, 2024, we are hoping that the winter weather will be more conducive to gardens and gardeners. Perhaps we will be able to wander around the garden, have a look at what is going on and actually get some gardening done.
I began my entries for January 2024 with a look at plants flowering in our garden, writing “I am always amazed that even in January, as the new year begins, flowers still give dashes of colour. This colour can come from trees, shrubs and perennials!”
To support my introduction I shared ten photos of flowers in our patch.
On the page opposite I moved on from flowers to foliage. I noted that, “Even more important at this time of year is foliage. Foliage plants grouped together can be so effective.”
I then shared some photos of such plant pairings.
“Arum are one of the most important plants due to the incredibly varied leaves – shape, colour, silver markings and splodges of black or purple.” Their varied markings go well with any other foliage plants to create striking combinations.
On the page opposite the arums I specialised in some orchids, phalaeonopsis coloured in rich yellows and oranges.
Concerning our moth orchids I wrote,”We grow just one hardy orchid outside, in amongst our ferns in the ‘Shade Garden’, but we have a few more orchids inside, a small batch of citrus coloured phalaeonopsis, the Moth Orchid. The outside orchid is called Bletilla striata Shi Ran.
Below are photos of the brightly coloured yellow and orange phalaeonopsis. The orange blooms are of P. ‘Bologna’ and the yellows are P. “Goldion”.
Onto the next double page spread I looked at another pair of Moth Orchid one of which is scented. Then the final page for this month shows another of my sketches of seed heads found while working in the garden in January.
About the orchids I wrote, “Two more phalaeonopsis go together really as they both have dusky pink flowers. One is also scented! And it also has spotted leaves.”
Below; Phalaeonopsis ‘Exclusivo Monaco’
Below; Phalaeonopsis ‘Odorion’
The final page for January in my Garden Journal 2024 concerns one of my sketches featuring seed heads found while we tidied up some perennial plantings.
I noted that, “Even in January we still come across these delicate seed heads on dried stems in a range of natural, neutral colours.”
The next time we visit my Garden Journal 2024 will of course be in February, our shortest month of all. Perhaps I will be able to report on some better weather for us gardeners and our plants.
greenbenchramblings 
One reply on “My Garden Journal 2024 January”
I’m always envious of your ‘winter’ months because they are much more beautiful than ours.