Thursday 2 February 2012

Brass Monkey weather

In my coarser days (i.e. in the Army) when it was really cold we used to say that it was "cold enough to freeze the b___s off a brass monkey". Well today is such a day. The temperature has certainly not risen above zero today, and I think that last night it must have been several degrees below. This is the "Roman Road" chestnut leaf I showed you a couple of days ago, now suspended in its frozen puddle:


I can usually get a pretty good impression of what the outside temperature is just by looking out of my window. When it is cold, the plants hunch themselves up - just like us humans:

PSP looking cold

The Swiss Chard is probably reminiscing about its Alpine origins (and regretting them):



I rather fear that some of the salads may be irretreivably frosted:

Chicory


Endives

The Euphorbia is also looking a bit sorry for itself, and the bracts are finally beginning to turn brown. Normally by this time of year I have cut back all the previous year's growth to make room for new shoots, but this Winter the plants have been reluctant to admit defeat:


Although it has been cold, there has at least been some sunshine. Here is my Dogwood "Midwinter Fire" illuminated by it:

Dogwood
This Dogwood is not particularly "fiery" in colour this year, so it is on the list for drastic pruning in a month or so. They say that you should prune Dogwood almost to the ground every 3 years or so, in order to re-invigorate it, so that's what I'm going to do.

Snow is forecast for the weekend...

14 comments:

  1. I know how the plants feel - I've been pretty 'hunched' up myself.

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  2. We have a lot of Cornus Sanguinea as hedging here, planted by the Council. They cut it to the ground every three years, as you say, and it comes back so vigorously. I hope your works.

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  3. Yes it does seem just a mite on the chilly side at the moment...loved the frozen leaf!!

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  4. Watching with interest the fall in your temperatures and I promise not to gloat...its typical human nature I suppose that even though I don't like to be cold, I can actually miss some of the 'wintery aspects' although I don't miss frosticle extremeties!
    Stay cosy :D

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  5. great little blog, love the photos... they're fantastic!!

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  6. I'll be watching the premiership football games this weekend to see if there is snow! Looks quite chilly Mark, hope you don't lose any plants! Cheers, Jenni

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  7. Oh dear poor you - I hate the cold. But if it must be cold it'd be nice if it snowed wouldn't it? Actually, after the initial snow excitement I'm sure I'd end up disliking it too.

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  8. Poor sad veggies - I hope it warms up so they don't look like that for long.

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  9. soooo cold today and we have a sprinkling of snow which is so pretty... but the garden is looking a little overwhelmed!

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  10. Our poor hellebores are looking really sorry for themselves and our doggy visitor was straight out and in this morning. The promised walk may have to be put on hold.

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  11. It's much colder here too today. We've been spoilt so far this winter, I'm not ready for any snow.

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  12. It's been really cold in Northern Ireland too especially at night. Frost last two mornings. Burrr!

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  13. Wow, I think it is colder there than here for a change! Almost all the snow has melted. I'm going to take a turn in the garden to see if anything is stirring...

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  14. Didn't know this is how plants look, all hunched up, when it's bitterly cold. That icy first picture looks beautiful.

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