First frost

See my first 1 December post for the lavishly illustrated annual ramblings 

We emptied out the hanging baskets the other day, and put the fuchsias and geraniums in the mini greenhouse to take their chances over the winter.  The local garden shop provided some decent looking pansy plants, so they are variously installed in the hanging baskets and pots on the steps out the back.  This morning when I came down (after allowing the house to warm up a bit after a cold night), the goat willow at the top of the garden was shedding leaves like snowflakes.  A breath of wind, and it’ll be bare.

When it has been a little less cold we’ve done a modest bit of gardening, and Martyn has set about last year’s hydrangea heads with spray paint to make a decoration for the fireplace.  They had largely lost their colour, so it was a good move, and the result is more than pleasing.

We woke to a white world this morning, following the sharp overnight frost.  Egg2, which is standing outside, has remained frosted all day.  Maybe we should have left the other one out, since it does at least defrost its windscreen.  We shall take it to Southampton, just in case we return to frost after our forthcoming stay in the floating care home.  

A propos, I learn from Matthew McCombie that he will be on board.  Excellent pianist, and a thoroughly nice chap. We look forward to his Queen’s Room recitals, and hope they’ve tuned the Joanna this time.