Thursday, 8 January 2026

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. 

12 comments:

  1. I can't believe we've missed the bad weather that most of the country have experienced, it's cold here but we haven't had any snow at all, not even a flake even though it snowed just a few miles away. It does look pretty but I don't like going out in it so I'm not complaining. Apparently, we're forecast ten degrees next week. I hope your garden is faring okay in the snow, hellebores are hardy plants, they have to be blooming at this time of year.

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    1. Thanks, Jo. The snow went pretty quickly and since then it's been wind and rain, but nowhere near the conditions that some parts of the country have had to deal with and for that, I am so grateful. The garden seems to be coping OK and the hellebore is still flowering!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Oh don't you just love the hellebores Ellie - still trying to flower no matter what! That looks to be a heavy dumping of snow on things? Your hydrangeas do look as if they are wearing hats! xx

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    1. Thanks, Julie. I do love the hellebores and appreciate their tenacity, together with the snowdrops and other brave plants flowering during winter. It was quite a bit of snow for us here but didn't last long - we often miss it entirely. However, Scotland has had loads of snow, so I am grateful I don't live there.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Keep warm & cozy, Ellie. Your snow is beautiful. Love, Andrea xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. The snow does look lovely, but causes so many problems. I am always glad when it has gone. Other countries cope so much better than we do!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. I'm amazed you have things blooming with snow on the ground. I do a good fall clean up and cut everything back/down. It helps keep some of the skunks, deer, and other unwanted critters away. If I don't cut them down, the animals eat them in such a way the plants get destroyed. Learned that the hard way a few years back. Plus, doing a good fall clean up helps make the spring clean up less of a chore.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. Thanks, Sandy. It helps that our winters in the UK are never as cold as other parts of the world. It's good that you protect the plants. I will be doing some cutting back of grasses and raspberry canes and some rose pruning in February.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Our snow was brief - the air was so cold that the snow froze on contact with the ground. Was glad it only lasted a day or two. Really want to get out and tidy the garden from the post snow 'mush' it seemed to have developed.

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    1. Thanks, kjsutcliffe. I was pleased our snow didn't hang around too. I am so looking forward to getting out in the garden a bit more as the evenings get lighter.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. ❄️Snow !!! ❄️ Yay ! We don't get it very often here . I do love so see see the children playing in the snow ! ☃️

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    1. Thanks, Daisy Debs. Yes, it is wonderful for children and I used to love it. Not quite so much now though.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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