Winter Chill brings Winter Flowers

OK, I have to admit I have done a "Melba". What is a "Melba"? I hear you ask. In the Nineteenth Century Australia had a world famous classical singer whose name was Dame Nellie Melba. In her later life, Dame Nellie had many swan song concerts, unable to relinquish her main love finally and once and for all, she kept on returning, "This occasion for the very last time".

There are some exciting events about to take the stage at Suite101.com. We will be calling on you, dear readers, to help keep the Suite viable. You may have noticed the banner telling you that a Co-Op store is about to open its door. Reputable dealers [eg Amazon] will give you an opportunity to purchase your everyday requirements at very compatible prices. By buying your books, magazines, toilet requirements, hardware and many more everyday things at the store, you will be taking part in a worthwhile adventure to keep the Suite alive and free of participation subscriptions. The shop is being tested, with success, at the moment but will soon be open for all members of Suite101.com

We editors will also be creating E books from our best articles for you to buy cheaply and either read comfortably from your hard drive or print out in book form. This excites me as one of the reasons I changed my mind and did not resign, was that so many of you e-mailed me that you had enjoyed my articles very much over the last six years. I sincerely hope you will be interested in this new innovation and give the editors good support. I think to have our writings in permanent form is more satisfying than having to pay a fee to be a member of the Suite community. Don't you?

Our gardens are rapidly moving into early Spring now we have passed the shortest day, although the weather is rather cold. Last weekend, I looked out the window, after leaving my warm bed, and was shocked to see that the garden beds were all snow white with a very severe frost. My heart plummeted when I thought of the Camellias that already had their first flowers in full bloom. I knew the Christmas Roses Helleborus would withstand the zero temperature but how would the Gordonia withstand the sudden freeze? We planted this semi tropical ornamental small tree some years ago with hope that our climate would not be too cool for it to prosper. The plant grew well enough but I began to lose hope of ever seeing the white Camellia like flowers with wonderfully bright yellow stamens, anywhere else but in gardening books. Again I was to be proved a fusspot and far too impatient to be a good gardener because this month it bloomed and last Sunday the frost had vanished by mid-morning and all was cheerful with the birds singing and the flowers nodding to one another.

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