Fortunately the forecasters knew this was coming so any of the borderline hardy plants that were outside in pots were brought into warmer locations, and heaters set up in the greenhouses. We don't heat to high temperatures, just enough to keep pots from freezing and keep everything ticking along without problems.
Chris Chadwell on his recent expedition.
With the ground frozen on Saturday we had thought about working on the Filtration House, but instead decided we would have a day off (a well deserved day off I hope you will agree!), and went to visit a few local garden centres. Saturday was also the monthly meeting of our local Hardy Plant Society group, with a talk by Chris Chadwell about plant collecting in the Himalaya. So with cold weather outside, we were taken on a trip to some of the highest mountains in the world, perhaps a cold snap in the UK isn't so bad after all!
Delphinium brunonianum in the Himalaya (Photo: C Chadwell)
As well as the slideshow, Chris had brought along seed from his last expedition, so we now have a selection of fresh Himalayan seed to try, one would expect these plants to be suitably hardy here!By Saturday evening the snow had arrived, and we awoke on Sunday to a garden full of the white stuff, roughly 4 inches for us.
View from the back bedroom window across to the New Garden and Filtration House.
Various exotics covered in snow. Yucca recurvifolia in the foreground.
Fatsia japonica
The sun lounger is slightly less appealing when covered in a layer of snow!
Schefflera rhododendrifolia, the newly emerging 'hands' covered in snow.
Knickers has seen snow before but seemed to love chasing after it in the garden again.
After being in two minds whether to continue to plasterboard the Filtration House this morning, we ended up heading off to Kew Gardens, and the Tropical Extravaganza in the Princess of Wales Glasshouse. Rather than add the orchid photos to this blog, I will sort though the photos and add a dedicated blog during the week.
View across Kew's lake towards the Palm House.
Warning, thin ice! A thin layer of ice had formed on the large lake outside the Palm House.
Despite the cold some plants are still looking fabulous, here Helleborus argutifolius from Corsica is putting on a fine display.
The main reason for our trip, photos to follow in a separate blog.
The orchids were stunning, and a much needed blast of warmth and color on a cold winters day. As we got home the snow was melting, so with luck most of it will be gone soon!Gaz
Chris Chadwell
The Hardy Plant Society
