Must say that Winter is a great time for an op. like my knee replacement because while you recuperate you don't really care how bad the garden looks.
Mine is like a jungle but gradually we're seeing colour again. The Hardenbergia(Happy Wanderer) is going crazy on the trellis outside the office(must prune it), next is an Alyogyne -West Coast Gem, and finally a favorite of mine, Primulas.