Tags
Christmas, Clematis, frost, Hellebores, Mother nature, Primroses, Spring, winter
November flowering Geranium
They said we’d have a frost on Tuesday. It was saying 4 degrees C when we got back from swimming at 9.30pm and it was a beautifully clear night. We were convinced that on Wednesday morning there would be the final act of winter decline in the garden. But no, there was no sign of a frost and there are still Verbenas flowering and Heleniums and Geraniums. It’s December next week. A part of me wants the frost to come to allow the garden its seasonal sleep. It’s just unnatural to have these plants flowering now. What will happen to them in the Spring? Will they have the energy to put on a show then or will they be too exhausted by this strange autumn we’ve had? A Spring without Primroses, well that would be unthinkable.
The other part of me however, the part that doesn’t really like Winter, wants this mild spell to last as long as possible. Cheaper heating bills, washing drying on the line and tasty lettuce growing on the allotment.
I love a snow covered scene, the chance to make a snowman and the beauty of a frost covered countryside. But the snow never stays looking crisp and even for very long, we rarely have enough snow (the past 2 winters being the exception) or the right snow to make a snowman and living in Wales there seems to be less frost covered countryside and more soggy foliage and muddy paths.
But the weather is one thing we can’t control, even though as gardeners we want to. So there is nothing else to do but wait and see what Mother Nature gives us. Who knows maybe I’ll still be picking stocks from the allotment at Christmas.
Having read this post I’ve realised it sounds a bit melancholic so to leave on a more cheerful note. I was reading through my gardening diary last night and was heartened by my entry on Tuesday 11th January 2011. It reads:’ I do get so excited when I see new life appearing in the garden. Snowdrops at the back are appearing and big fat hellebore buds. Scraped back some grit on the bulb pan and there’s a bud there too. So the baby irises should come up. Loads of buds on the Clematis. I don’t know why but I always worry the garden won’t actually regenerate in Spring. So I go around poking and pushing back the soil in the hope I will find signs of new life. I also found big fat Dicentras buds. Yey!’
wellywoman 
Like you, down here in Devon we are still waiting for our first frost, it didn’t materialise the other night as forecast. The plants that suffered last winter all have their protective coats on, they must be sweltering by now ! I wouldn’t worry too much about spring flowers flowering now, I’m sure they will get a rest soon and flower again in the spring, not long now before the snowdrops start, they are showing their noses already.
We have had one light ground frost so far and it didn’t really affect anything – I just keep going round the garden and marvelling at what’s still in flower. Poor old plants don’t know whether they’re coming or going do they?
We have had only one light frost so far, so I am still marvelling at what keeps coming into flower. I agree with you, will they have enough energy left come springtime – it’s in the lap of the Gods.
sorry my first message disappeared so you now have two versions of the same thing.
The first and only frost of autumn so far was earlier this month, although some years here on the banks of the Mersey we have made into December without a frost. There are still some summer flowers hanging on although they look rather straggly. I also have a hellebore in flower which seems rather spooky. I am sure that it will all sort itself out in the end 🙂
Like you I’m enjoying the milder weather (totally agree about being able to put washing out to dry!) but the garden needs a frost to give all the pests a good seeing to! My primulas are already re-flowering but everything else seems now to be taking its course, apart from plum tomatoes still ripening on the balcony!
There’s been no proper overnight frosts here yet although they are forecasting one for tomorrow night.
I also wondering what will happen come spring time! I don’t mind a short touch of winter preferably in February but even a dusting of snow here in London always causes chaos and soon turns grey and mushy. xx
No frost to report in North Oxfordshire either. Worryingly my allium bulbs are coming up already….. poor planties, very confused.
No frost here either – and I, like you, am ambivalent about this… I figure if it stays mild I will just plant my tulips later, and enjoy picking dahlias into December.