Awful weather - typical Brits talk

wort

lovely walk the canal was frozen and lots of chubby Robins to be seen 

twopenny

Lovely to see you whenever you clock in WM Isn't it a joy to see bulbs giving a promise.

What will you put in the gap? Summer flowering geraniums, winter flowering box or some pansies for colour now? I saw a wonderful display of primulas in the park. The colour really cheers you up. Didn't have the camera obvs.

Wort what a wonderful walk, no wonder you were keen to go.

I used to spend holidays beside canals in Herts. Some wonderful walks.

So we've actually hit 4c and sunshine for much of the day. Bitterly cold even so.

I can see stars between the clouds.

Anyone seen Venus? it's stunningly bright with a huge bloom of light around it.

Dustyevsky

Working_Mum said:

I hope everyone stays safe and warm - it seems quite brutal in certain areas (looking at you Dusty and Farway).

Things have been nippy but far from brutal here. It was further south they had problems. DD2 set off at 06.30 this morning, having watched the gritter go through, and she had a clear run. We're lucky, being on a bus route.  Despite that, DD reported one car in a hedge on the main road.

It's been sunny most of the time today, but I wimped-out and started re-organising the polytunnel. There's a new deep bed to build in there. It looks like next week will be better for bonfiring the brash from the tree felling.Wind's all over the place now.

Wort, your super photos show you've had proper winter weather up there. I love the two with the sun and trees. Everyone loves a snowy robin too. I snapped our robin yesterday, but it was a very substandard result.

twopenny said:

Anyone seen Venus? it's stunningly bright with a huge bloom of light around it.

If it's over in the south west, then yes! I have my reading specs on though. They made two seagulls into herons this morning, but hey, seagulls are rarer than herons here! 

wort

TBH the weather was varied yesterday, mostly sunny with the snow crunching underfoot. But as the pics show some random changes, the gloomy pic was at 10.30 am and had been blue sky and sunny just before, then later it went foggy then cleared again. We were wrapped up and warm stopped half way for a coffee, a really good walk. The robins must be used to folk feeding them as they were not afraid and not even flying off as dogs ran past.
Today is around minus 3 and I reckon a dusting of snow then frost has occurred overnight. 

No crocs or snowdrops here yet. Though some bulbs are poking up I’m not sure what they are. My primulas had been munched by the slugs. But I doubt they will be munching them at the moment.

Farway

Very hard overnight frost, if my pelargoniums survived then I know they are tough ones

Dull, cold but dry. Like Dusty, not been too brutal regarding snow, none to speak of, just very wet & windy.

Lovely snowy pics Wort, I like the watery sun & trees.

Venus may have been spotted, there were two "stars" in the partly cloudy sky when I checked the plumbing during the night, but I was not paying a lot of attention between chattering teeth & shivering limbs

Seeing your sink pics WM reminded me I have some sempervivum [Houseleek] seeds, bought on offer natch, which I intend to grow in pots in a hot spot

I'll have to check sowing dates in case I need to get going with heat now.

Just checked, I could sow now but maintaining heat once germinated could be a problem this time of year. I think I'll wait a month or so.

Another no gardening day, but I may look on YT about sempervivums now I've remembered I have them

twopenny

So darn cold. Even the TTennis hall with heat on and 20 peeps running around it was cold.

And grey.

So although I briefly, very, sat in the garden and perused that was it.

No incentive to go for a walk.

And I seem to have a bug or over stressed or whatnot and feel really grim, coughs and sneezes this morning and aching this evening so an early night.

Have enjoyed the 2 gardeners specials that I watched. Some really useful tips for once. Loved Carol Kleins winter flowering shrubs and the gardens with swathes of grasses and colour. Wish I could do that but I don't think it's my thing when I look.

Been a busy time in the NP here. I'd seen a lot of fallen trees but this is a lot

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c805e78m0rjo

And the famous Clapper bridge took a pounding again. All major stones knocked off in the storms. Must have been better weather when it was originally built.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-somerset-65713507

ArbitraryRandom

Beautiful if cold day today travelling home. There was a packet of seeds waiting for me (the clover and nasturtiums I ordered towards the end of December - plus 'bonus seed' in the form of leeks, which I hadn't planned to grow, but might find a space). 

I was knackered when I got in, so turned up the thermostat and had a nap for a couple of hours while the house warmed up. Should have brought logs etc in before I left I guess, but having both options is good. Now to figure out if there's any food anywhere.  

twopenny

Ooo that looks chilly!

Hope you've warmed up now and are snugly wrapped up.

Temps should rise a tad tomorrow.

Leeks are good to eat. I used to make a Leek and Brie flan. Fry the leeks just a little to sweeten, put them with lumps of Brie on the pastry base and add the eggs. Very light take and lovely in summer

Dusty you've made photo of the week

Dustyevsky

Although it was chilly, we still seemed to get off lightly today, with little wind, thin clouds and even a touch of sunshine at dusk.

The hens' water was still liquid at 08.00 which is a reliable way of telling if the overnight frost was severe or not. It's kept inside the hen house, and at around -3c, the 1 cm deep trough around the edge ices-up.

So, no heavy frost, but I still wimped-out of planting foxgloves by the stream! Instead, I attempted to find a garden our local Society could visit in June. I'd been charged with this task, and it proved hard, because most local gardens major in rhododendrons, azaleas, and other late spring performers. By June, they're done. I'd almost given up when the NGS website came up with something which ought to please both flower and veg aficionados. Even better, the owner answered the phone, there would be tea and cake, and the date was free! Hurrah!

In the afternoon, I ventured out to chainsaw-up more of the material I'll be bonfiring. The chain I've used for a few months was on its last legs (or links) and when it began smoking after an hour or so, I called it a day! It might have been wishful thinking and/or a reasonable sunset, but I felt it was a little lighter when going indoors at 17.00....and it wasn't freezing.

It was obviously freezing where you travelled through, Arb. That bridge seems to need fixing nearly every winter nowadays, 2p. What on earth did they do in medieval times?  

EDIT:

twopenny said:

Dusty you've made photo of the week

Oh, so I have!  Never look there, and didn't see your post last night. I forgot to refresh (though I'd had some 'refreshment!'

It should have been your photo. There were far more snowdrops in yours. Now it's there, I wish I'd taken more care and exposed better, but as usual, my companion was heading off into the distance, so it was a 'grabbit quick.'

Working_Mum

Morning everyone,
I have to say the recent pics here have made me feel cold!

I'm pleased the bridge is being repaired quickly 2p - seems to be an ancient monument and should be protected. Old technology standing the test of time! I hope you've headed your cold off at the pass and it hasn't taken hold. I'm not sure what I will put in the ugly gap in my Belfast sink - it gets super hot out front which is why I put the succulents out there as they're virtually bombproof. I will sort when the soil defrosts a little - I have other pots by my front door with cyclamen, ivy and evergreen shrubs underplanted with bulbs so it won't be long until there is proper flowers out there welcoming me when I walk through the door!

I couldn't snooze for 2 hours Arb and then expect to sleep properly on the night. Well done if you did sleep ok

Well done on being pic of the week Dusty snowdrops are so full of hope aren't they. I love them

I've been super industrious already today - collected my food shop (am doing an online order each week in an effort to curb my food spending as I love a good mooch around a supermarket!). I've made a sauce for the lasagne I'm making for supper tonight with my next door neighbour and will be heading to posh town shortly as my friend's mum is hosting a charity coffee morning in aid of Cancer Rese4rch. A virtuous cuppa and catch up with a pal!

OT it is -3' here and my garden looks a picture of frosty gorgeousness! I've topped up the bird feeders and have been watching the little birds flitting about and starting their day.

Wishing everyone a smashing, safe weekend.

WM