Gosh, I’m struggling to type this today. I went out to the garden to look for Six-worthy photos and it is bitterly cold out there and my hands haven’t thawed out yet! I was only out there for about five minutes and that was over an hour ago! According to the BBC weather app, it’s going to be in double digit figures, temperature-wise, all next week and I can’t flipping wait!!
It was quite a sad wander through the garden. It’s been so cold recently, for a prolonged period, and I don’t think the garden is very happy about it at all. It’s a good job I’m not spending much during lockdown, because, having looked at the garden, I think I’m going to have to invest quite a bit in new plants in the Spring/Summer because some of them definitely don’t look like they’ll recover.
One such plant is this Osteospurmum.
It’s made it through the two previous Winters without a problem. I even repotted it last year because it had done so well but, as you can see, it really hasn’t taken well to being snowed on and frozen for days! I’m annoyed, because, being in a pot, I could’ve moved it into the greenhouse for a bit of protection, but I didn’t think to.
There was proof in the greenhouse of just how cold it’s been – my thermometer shows the low and high temperatures and the low is now lower than it’s been since I got the greenhouse at – 4.8 degrees!
I left a half full watering can in there and it’s frozen solid! Unfortunately, a ladybird has fallen/landed in there and it’s frozen to death! Poor thing.
Back outside, I spotted a skeleton Pink Damask flower in my birthday planter.
Hopefully this plant will survive the elements. It dies down completely in the Winter before coming back in the Spring/Summer and with it being in my planter, hopefully it will have been kept a bit warmer underneath the soil.
I managed to find a bit of colour in the form of my Dogwood.
There are so many problem areas in our garden, and this is one of them. I’m sure this Dogwood would probably be doing much better somewhere else, but I’m limited in what I can grow because of next door’s jungle. At least it’s survived the arctic out there!
I’ve saved the best two photos for last! There is some regrowth happening! I really didn’t expect to see anything getting ready for Spring – even the daffodils have collapsed under the snow and now I’m not sure if they’ll bloom. However, there are some signs of Spring.
This Heuchera was given to us by my Dad and C when we first moved in and it’s survived every Winter so far, even this one! It has a beautiful delicate flower later on. I’m glad it’s stuck its middle stamen up at the snow and forged ahead to produce new growth.
The other bit of new growth I noticed is one of my patio roses. I have two of them, both from the sale a couple of years ago, and they could do with a bit of a prune. They’re also both leaning which I presume shows me which way the prevailing wind blows! I noticed the new leaves that have appeared, but what I didn’t notice until I got in and looked at the photo is that at the back there, there’s a rose bud. I hope that doesn’t try to bloom too early because it’s definitely still too cold for it.
I’m hopeful that soon there’ll be more signs of Spring for me to share, and if not, hopefully I’ll be able to get some new plants to replace the poor deceased ones.
I’ll sign off now but before I do, I’ll just remind you to check out the Propagator’s blog for other Sixes. People from all over the world join in, so there should be some colourful contributions from people living in different climates. Have a great weekend all.
Green Girl Gardener 
Good luck to all your plants! I’m hoping they’ll make it through the frost and grow back that much stronger in Spring.
What’s the first new plant you might put outside when winter’s over?
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Thank you! I’ve actually got raspberry canes on order so they’ll be first in but it terms of non-fruit/veg, I’ve no idea. Hopefully I can have a fun afternoon wandering around a garden centre when it feels safe to do so 😁.
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From what I can see, it’s been a really cold winter this year in the UK. Hope your favourite plants survive.
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Winter in other climates sounds so unpleasant. Yet, I sometimes think that a bit more cool weather would be nice here. There is not enough time for all the dormant pruning!
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Cool I could cope with, but it’s been bitterly cold here recently and yet still other countries get much colder (Scandinavia, Canada etc.) I really don’t know how they cope, with their gardens or just with general life!
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Yes; those in such climate have plenty of time to get the dormant pruning done before spring, but probably do not want to go outside to do it!
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You’re not alone. I think many of us will have at least one garden casualty from this prolonged cold spell. The upside is it’s an excuse to buy new plants 🙂
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Yes I’m very much looking forward to that upside 😁.
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Good luck with the warmer temperatures next week! I am so eager to get to a garden center too. Fingers crossed soon for all of us!
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Oh the Pink Damask skeleton looks great, Sarah. That’s one I need to investigate a bit.
Thankfully, temperatures here are a bit higher this week, and with longer days tbi gs are looking good. Not great, but good.
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Yes much better weather here too this week. Thank goodness! Long may it last 😁.
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