Yard time

Still a sea of flowers. The weather forecast says temperatures of 5°C tonight but I hope that the enclosed yard will protect the plants. I will see in the morning…..

The red flowers seem to be the main things that are still flowering. The yellow line at the top is our washing line, but it’s hard to dry clothes on it in the summer.

Memory of winter

The snow has gone for now

Warm winds blow from the south

Clear frosty mornings

Left behind

Rain and showers

Water the blossom and flowers

Cold chill twigs

Now wet with buds.

Birds collect bugs

and think of lining their nests

With moss and fluffy stuff

Warm and snuggled

For eggs and chicks

Farewell Winter.

See you later in the year

As the seasons turn.

Still going!

What is going on? Begonias and Lobelia in November! I know some gardeners cut everything back and compost things after the summer. But I can’t do it. I love seeing things grow. The baskets will eventually die back. The tops of them are already looking a bit scrappy, but any sleepy and cold bee or hover fly can maybe sneak a sip of nectar. Our back yard is sheltered by the house, large bushes and a fence, I suppose the plants huddle together forming a microclimate. We also live towards the bottom of the hill so we don’t get hit by winds sweeping down from the north. It’s a haven. Looking forward to next summer. X

Looking back

I didn’t venture out today because its really cold and I’m still a bit unwell. I was scrolling through my photos from the summer and came across this double hanging basket next to the house. It grew and grew and was magnificent in July and August. Now? The frost came last night, a glaze of white on the tiled roof opposite. I think all the baskets will wilt, the delicate annual plants are starting to wither, but the slightly woodier ones like fushias are still there.

Photos of the back to follow, and if I get out into the autumn landscape before all the leaves fall I will post some shots of the trees locally.

Frost

Frost on the bonnet of my car. How does it grow like that? Feathers created by a mysterious creature called Jack Frost. Water frozen in amazing patterns, crystallising into flakes or swirls or swooping spirals. Beauty in nature, patterns from tiny water molecules.

This photo is from a couple of years ago. I haven’t seen frost like this, this winter. We have has snow, and some passing frosts, but nothing to build up a deep layer of ice like this. I would love to try and draw it if it happens again, particularly when it builds up on the windscreen of my car…

That basket

I said I would post again about this hanging basket. I’m afraid the frost a couple of nights ago and minus 3.3°c put paid to the begonias, but some of the other plants are still going. Now they are covered in snow and more is forecast over the next few days…. I will see what it looks like whan it’s thawed a bit……