Deep frost

Another day and another post about one of our favourite British discussion subjects – the weather! What I like best about the weather in winter – and particularly the frost – is the definition that it brings to everything.  Spring is a time for flowers, summer is a time for blue skies and sunshine, autumn is the time for leaves – but winter is about sparkles and frosty outlines.  It’s about hearing the ground crunching under your feet, seeing your breath steam out in front of you and wrapping up toasty warm.  More than any other time of year, it’s about treating the weather with respect and remembering that it can be fierce and harsh, and not to be taken for granted.

We still have a little bit of the Boxing Day snow on the ground but last night there was a heavy frost which turned everything to white again.  I decided to make the most of the hazy sunshine and headed out into the garden.  Are you coming?  You’ll need your coat on – it’s cold!

This is our twisted hazel tree.  It’s quite close to the front door and every year I hang baubles in it. It’s not the most attractive tree during the summer as it’s just a mass of green leaves, but it really comes into it’s own at this time of the year.

This oak-leaved Hydrangea is one of my favourite plants in the garden, and I think it looks especially beautiful with it’s frosty coating.

It’s not until the leaves have gone from the trees that you realise just how much this Clematis armandii has grown over the year – it’s wrapped itself around the witch hazel …

and here’s the first very brave little flower.

This is Lonicera nitida, a type of non-flowering honeysuckle which usually has bright yellow leaves.  It’s got a bit shaded under the apple tree so I might have to move it next year, although I am toying with the idea of pruning the tree as it’s got a bit overgrown.  Apple trees can be a bit temperamental, though, so I’ve been toying with the idea for a few years now and still haven’t plucked up the courage to do anything!

Even the dead heads of the Hydrangea look wonderful in the frost.

The Viburnum bodnantense “Dawn” usually flowers at this time of year – it’s one of the few plants that do – but even these tiny flowers near to the house haven’t escaped the frost.

Brr, it’s cold!  Time to go back inside now, but not before I’ve stopped to admire the Heuchera by the front door.  It’s called “Marmalade” and even with it’s white edges you can see how it got it’s name.

It’s so close to the end of the year now, and there’s always that feeling of one thing stopping and another thing starting, but the garden just goes on regardless of the dates on the calendar. Gardening is good for impatient people like me; it makes us wait and watch the seasons and reminds us that everything happens in it’s own time.  I need to remember that a bit more sometimes.

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8 Responses

  1. Mummy3+1dog says:

    I love ur garden x

  2. Angel Jem says:

    The frost does lend plants a sheen of glamour. I love the look of sunlight through bare tree branches as it blinds me just about 3 o'clock every afternoon.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Wow, those are beautiful images. We had an amazing frost here this morning – Little R was fascinated because last year was so mild he's hardly seen any. Come on the snow!!!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Thank you! It'll be fun for Little R if it snows where you are this year, he's at a great age to enjoy it this year! xx

  4. Lilly's Mom says:

    What beautiful photos you have shared! I have forgotten how beautiful a frost can be. Down here in Southern California we are experiencing a cold snap with cold air coming down from up north. It's suppose to get down to the 30's (farenheit) during the night this week. We are suppose to receive some much needed rain too. Wishing you a Happy New Year 🙂

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Thank you! Can't believe that I'm wishing the rain arrives for you – we seem to get far too much of it which is probably why I get over-excited to see snow! Happy New Year to you too xx

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