Diary of a weekend gardener

Seriously cold this time - for England, if not for Switzerland....

The weather station recorded -6.8C overnight, with -4.4C in the polytunnel too. This morning the garden was encased in thin frost and very pretty too. But it's only been one night, and although the grass is solid underfoot, the soil is soft underneath a frozen crust. It would take several days to freeze more deeply.

All useful acclimatisation for the youngest Trillia who is off to Switzerland today as an au-pair for my brother. I don't think she's been on a train on her own before and today she's flying to Zurich via Heathrow (and changing terminals) all on her own. I'm confident she'll be fine - but nervous too!

A few photos from this morning:

Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'. The buds look like sugar-coated sweets
A few iris reticulata - hope the flowers are frost proof.
Coylus contorta at its best
I love the way rhode- dendron leaves droop in a cold snap.
Choisya 'Aztec Pearl'. Such a great all year round plant
Viburnum davidii

posted by Sue Beesley @ 11:56 am