A few clumps of the tall, single early snowdrops, Galanthus elwesii are the first spring flowers to appear in the raised beds surrounding the courtyard. There is a lovely, mature acer which over hangs the wall in the courtyard which has a gorgeous Japanese-like structure, even when stripped of leaves. Nearby, the evergreen leaves and rusty orange flowers of an established Pieris japonica 'Forest Flame' together with existing bamboos, conifers, including an ancient prostrate juniper and the stunning red wands of the Siberian dogwood give some structure and depth. A large hebe with bright evergreen leaves and a few late white flowers still remaining, give some extra protection to the courtyard. Just beyond, several different types of euphorbia are pushing through the bracken beneath a spreading cotoneaster and a large established Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii. In the raised beds, only the striking black-leaved Mondo grass, Ophiopogon Nigrescens , a few clumps of Hook sedge, Uncinia rubra with its burnished, grassy leaves and the reliable Aurum italicum give year round interest. It is icy cold but there has been little snow. Only one weekend was I in danger of being snowed in!