Garden Blog - Blog Post

Winter Freeze

6 comments

We’ve had a cold spell where temperatures have hovered around zero or lower for a few weeks and most places have had snow, some much more than others. We’ve not had a great deal here, but there’s enough to put a thick white blanket over the garden and make a gratuitous photo opportunity.

IMG_4443

I like the terracotta pot covered with a thick, even layer of snow. It makes it look like an iced cup cake or meringue.

IMG_4444

This scene is more akin to the “February” picture of the Garden Arches.

IMG_4445

This Osmanthus Burkwoodii is in a rain-shadow but it still managed to get covered.

IMG_4448

The bird bath has long been a solid block of ice, even after pouring whole kettles of boiling water into it. The Buddha looks serene as always and snug in a scarf and hat of snow.

IMG_4451The evergreen shrub in the middle-ground is a Bay. I know that Bay can be quite hit-or-miss for surviving winters, especially if they’re not very large or established. They are supposed to get better as they get bigger. For our’s, I do know that it doesn’t mind being covered with snow but it will get very upset if subject to strong bitter winds. Sub-zero winds will scorch the leaves and they’ll turn brown. Although it will recover, it just won’t look very well for a while.

The forecast is set to change and it is meant to warm up. That will give the garden – and me – much-needed relief from the cold temperatures. With this cold snap, I know that we will have lost several plants and there is still February to get through but the sunshine we  had today has left me feeling optimistic and has given me itchy gardening fingers.

stay up to date

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to the Garden Blog and stay notified when new posts are available.

catch up

Recent Posts

Don't miss these recent posts.

delve deeper

Garden Blog Archive

Peruse the full Garden Blog Archive going back over a decade.

Visit the Garden

Inspired?

Visit the Garden at 13 Broom Acres on National Garden Scheme Open Days and by arrangement

author & gardener

Sunil Patel

I'm Sunil Patel, this is me. I created the Garden at 13 Broom Acres and I open it to visitors. I also bake and write blog posts giving a "behind the scenes" look into what it's like to maintain such a garden.

Visit the blog, then come and visit the garden. We can have a good sit-down, a jolly chinwag and a relaxing cup of tea with a sinfully generous slice of home made cake.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 comments

Susan Maclean 26/01/2013 - 11:57 pm

BRRRRR! We had a fall last weekend, but no more and indeed my grass is green and we are all clear. The trouble with snow is that it looks so beautiful but causes such havoc!

Reply
Sunil 27/01/2013 - 7:02 pm

Hello Mrs Mac, all white has cleared this weekend and it was actually sunny enough to have a go at some winter clearing up. I’m glad it’s turning milder this week as I can do with the break!

Reply
gardeninacity 27/01/2013 - 5:01 am

That’s actually quite lovely! Hard to believe you have more snow than we do.

Reply
Sunil 27/01/2013 - 7:05 pm

Hi Jason, thanks. This weekend it has suddenly turned much milder and after a night of heavy rain, all the snow has gone – completely, there aren’t even any ice patches! It’s a good job I managed to get out and take some pictures when I did otherwise I would have completely missed the opportunity.

Reply
Stacy 29/01/2013 - 1:07 am

Perfect, Sunil — a snow that looks magical while it lasts, lets your Buddha try out some new winter fashions, and then disappears before it’s spent any time in the slushy, dirty phase. Your garden has a lovely shape even under that heavy blanket. Hope you didn’t lose much to the cold!

Reply
Sunil 30/01/2013 - 8:02 pm

Hi Stacy, thank you, it will be a few months yet before I get a better picture of the winter losses. However, there are more than enough replacements in the greenhouses that are rearing to go!

Reply

Blog Post Lucky Dip

Lose yourself in garden history with over a decade of blog posts to choose from.

neighbourhood explorer

Followed Blogs

Here's a favourite list of blogs that I love to curl up with a cup of tea, slice of cake and have a good read.

stay notified

Subscribe to the Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to the Garden Blog and stay notified when new posts are available.

email address policy

Your email address will only be used for the purpose of sending you email updates to notify you of new blog posts. It will not be sold to third parties nor used for advertising or other marketing purposes.

© Sunil Patel. All rights reserved