Wintry weather (for the UK)

Like many parts of the UK, we have had some snow.  I know this isn't the depth or duration of snow that other countries get, but here it is becoming more unusual to get any and if we do, everything grinds to a halt, as somehow we are never prepared for it! Above is my new hellebore, bravely flowering away despite the weather.

I took these photos last Monday, at lunchtime, so the snow was beginning to melt (and had gone completely by Wednesday).

Scotland has had much more than we have here. I like looking at the snow, but don't enjoy having to travel anywhere in it. Here is our patio table and some pots of bulbs.

You can just make out a cyclamen coum in bud to the left of the pot and you can see the noses of snowdrops starting to push up - always such a positive sign.

I leave the old foliage of grasses and perennials over winter for any insects.  I will cut the grasses down in February. 

I think the hydrangea flowers look lovely with their snowy hats!  I think we are due some more wintry weather over the coming days as Storm Goretti sweeps in.  I think we will be having heavy rain in this area but this may become snow - we shall see.  In the South of the UK, they are bracing themselves for 80-90 mph winds. I hope people will be sensible and keep safe.