Helleborus Niger Helleborus Niger better known to some as Christmas Rose is one of the few herbaceous perennials that will flower through the mid to late winter.
hey will keep their leaves throughout the winter but you can always thin some leaves to show the buds and flowers.
They need a good open well drain soil with plenty of organic matter Incorporated into it when planting and a regular mulch annually , should encourage plenty of flower and buds through the winter.

St Bridget Nurseries would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Why not spend some of the Christmas holidays planning for 2011, thinking about seeds and bedding and new borders to plant in Spring.

Bare root ornamental and fruit trees can be ordered up to mid March, pick some fruit from your own garden next year.

Enquires for availability can be made from either of St Bridgets 2 garden centres.

Brighten up your winter garden with some more scented winter flowering shrubs.

"Lonicera fragrantissima" is a bushy, spreading, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and, in winter and early spring, fragrant, tubular, creamy-white flowers.

"Viburnham Bodnatense Dawn" is a fast-growing, deciduous shrub with clusters of fragrant, pale-pink flowers from late autumn through to spring.

Both available form St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres, give a plant as a present this Christmas

Cold weather forecast,

If you have tender shrubs in your garden and lost them last winter, be prepared for the 2nd cold snap of the winter,

Protect them with fleece or bubble wrap or if they are in pots move them to a greenhouse, conservatory or a sheltered position in the garden.

Plants will be OK in a garage or shed for short periods of time in winter but move them out when weather permits as plants need light.

Plants like Tree fern (Dicksonia) can be wrapped up in straw to protect them, be prepared and protect you treasured tender plants so they survive to give you pleasure next spring / summer.

Fleece and bubble wrap are both available from St Bridgets Nurseries garden centres.

Winter flowering shrubs

Winter flowering shrubs including varieties of Camellia sasanqua will give colour through late autumn and winter and Sarcococca and mahonias also give winter colour and give a lovely sweet scent to your winter garden.

St Bridgets garden centres sell varieties of them all so come and pay us a visit and give a bit of scented cheer to your garden in winter.

Sledges... Get ready for the next band of snow with a proper sledge - far grander than a baking tray! The ones at St Bridget's are so popular even the teddies had a go when the shop was shut. Available in red or blue they make lovely Christmas gifts. Available from both St Bridget Garden Centres in Exeter, Devon.

Brrrrilliant!
It is very cold outside and with a scatter of snow around in Exeter these little penguins have wandered into the Sidmouth Road (A3052) St Bridget's garden centre! They are soft and cuddly and perfect for the young and young at heart.
Pop in to do your Christmas shopping, there's more than plants to look at!

If you think it cold at the moment, why not think towards next Spring and summer .


Have you a warm sunny wall or fence in your garden, why not plant a Peach or Nectarine or even an Apricot and pick some fruit late summer next year.


St Bridgets sell 2 varieties of Peach Peregrine and Rochester, Nectarine named Lord Napier and the Apricot Moorpark.

They have lovely blossom in the spring but protect the blossom if late frosts are forecast.

They are best grown as fan trained against a wall or fence rather than free standing make sure the soil is well prepared so it holds water through the summer.

Secure the branches to wires that are fixed to the wall.

Maiden 1 yr plants can be ordered from St Bridgets for £20.00 which can be be trained onto a wall.