2024 brought lots of snow.  As we are only 2 fields away from the sea, we often miss out on the snow that other parts of Caithness receive.

Again in February 2024 we had lots of snow and bitterly cold weather  - superb for photography but not for gardening!

Finally in March 2024, spring sprang very fast.  After months of dreadful storms day after day, the daffodils stood proudly brightening so much of the garden - there are thousand upon thousands of daffodils at Sunnycroft Cottage!

By April almos all the narcissus are flowering, together with primula and polyanthus, filling the garden with hope for the forthcoming year.

By May, the garden is really coming alive - the bluebells flower despite having so many of their leaves eaten in late winter by hungry deer!

Nothing says June more clearly in our garden than the great big blousy blooms of the oriental poppies!

In July you feel like "everythings'" in flower - foxgloves, sea rocket and stil more poppies!  The garden is alive with the sound of hundreds if not a few thousand bees working their way through the endless pollen feeds.

Yet more poppies - field, common, icelandic, the colour is endless!

September has roses, poppies, fuschia and so much more, but a buddleia with a Red Admiral has to be a favourite!

The days are dramtically shorter, the sun is lower in the sky and the garden is shutting down for the winter - by the end of the month the first winter storms start, but we promise ourselves that this winter we WILL get the garden sorted for next year!

One advantage of the weather being too bad for humans to work outside is that clearing gets delayed and the birds (goldfinches in this case) can feast on the seeds left from the summer.

By December, even the local pheasants like to shelter in our shrubs away from the weather - even if we do have cats!