Fitzroy's Folly Winter Planter (21cm) Cyclamen, Brassica, Skimmia Finchy Planter sold by Boma Garden Centre

There comes a point in winter when the view from the kitchen window turns mostly grey: wet railings, bare branches, the neighbour’s bins. Fitzroy’s Folly is our answer to that. It’s a window box planted by hand at Boma in Kentish Town, made to order, with three plants chosen to look good together while the rest of the garden goes quiet.White cyclamen brings clean, bright flowers that hold their own on a dull afternoon. Beside it, the brassica adds ruffled leaves with real texture, and the skimmia gives a neat, glossy evergreen backbone that keeps the whole box looking full.Set it on a windowsill, a balcony ledge or by the front door, somewhere you’ll pass it every day. It’s a small thing, but coming home in the dark to a flash of white and green on the step makes a difference. The folly is in the name only.