And I wasn’t ready for it. I had my eye out for it, as everywhere south of us had snow. We never get snow, but I don’t know if I should be happy about this or not. I’ve never had the opportunity to build a snowman in my back yard and it seems like it would be a fun thing to do.
The boffins had said it would get down to 6°C, so I made a judgement call. 6°C isn’t that close to freezing, I’d be fine. Or more to the point the garden would be fine. Besides we were in the midst of some gloomy, windy weather that was mostly defined by the torrential rain for days on end. It didn’t seem like it would be possible for it to stop. I assumed this was our lot for the next 3 months. It is amazing how much the grey weather can bring out the pessimist in you. It is also hard to imagine how it can go grotty gloom, to a beautiful blue sky day overnight like someone had flipped a switch.
Of course the first thing I did upon waking, when it had finally sunk in that the cold I was feeling wasn’t because Hubby the Un-Gardener had stolen all the blankets… again, but it was actually cold – caused by a frost! My immediate reaction was to bleat about it. ‘Oh no my crops.’ The ones I had intended on harvesting, had it not been for the incessant rain. Some winters we don’t even get a frost so there was always hope for extending the harvest.
Then came the realisation “oh there has been a frost!” A rare magical scene where Jack Frost has made considerable effort to make my tired and somewhat neglected garden look beautiful if only for a few hours, before everything turns to mush. So I leapt out of the comfort of my warm bed and in my PJs I wandered about the garden taking photos, because you will never know if this will be the first frost of many this winter, or the only one.
I kept taking photos until my fingers became too stiff to press the button with ease. Each shot was bitter sweet. It looked so beautiful – everything laced in white. But most of the elaborately decorated plants were about to die as the sun rose in the sky and the ice crystals pierced their inner cells. Each photo became a mental list of all the things I need to do to restore the garden to an image of functionality instead of the unfolding decay.
But with all things there are blessings to be found. The frost may be taking some of my late lingering summer crops with it, but they won’t be the only victims. Pests and disease harbouring in the nooks and crannies of my garden will also be causalities of the cold and this will be cause to celebrate in my spring garden.
The other blessing is starches will have been converted to sugars and the crops who like it cold in the garden will be loving it, and I will love eating them because they will be so much sweeter.
Come again soon – the garden is about to receive an unplanned burst of energy. I really do wonder: where are my gloves?
Sarah the Gardener : o )
Frost is always a mixed blessing.
Hi. I am trying to see the good in it. It is nearly winter after all and not half as devastating as a late spring frost.
Cheers Sarah : o )
And when it comes, it makes it absolutely clear that your gardening of the tender plants is finished. You can clean up and get ready for winter.
Pretty much! : o )
winter will soon skip by before you know it it will be spring again we just coming in to summer here
Hi Linda. I know. The seasons seem to roll round faster and faster these days. Enjoy your summer.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Sorry to hear about your frost. We will soon be in the dog days of summer. Did the mustard make it? Gene
HI Gene. The mustard seemed to have bounced back by the end of the day, but we had another frost again this morning so time will tell. Enjoy your summer.
Cheers Sarah : o )
The ice tipped lettuce in the sunlight is a gorgeous photo! And hooray for sweet parsnips.
Thanks. The parsnips were amazing – I made a curried parsnip soup and it was just the thing for a cold almost winter evening.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Sounds delicious!
Hey Sarah .. Darned cold here this am. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jack has slipped up our way .. Time to sneak outdoors
Hi Julie. The best upside of a frost is usually the lovely blue sky days once it warms up. Hopefully your garden will be spared for a little while longer yet. Jack may not want to venture across the harbour.
Cheers Sarah : o)
He didn’t! Not up on our hill 😉
Oh my! I live on the East Coast of Central Florida and we never had a spring. It has been so hot here already.
Hi Keo. The seasons can be all over the place. We once had a winter so mild there was no frost. The pests that following season were such a bother. I hope the heat doesn’t overwhelm you as summer progresses.
Cheers Sarah : o )
I cant believe the frosts are here, but it really is so pretty to photograph! http://bit.ly/1Q7FULu. Its also a great time to be picking your brassicas, as they get absolutely delicious after the first frost! http://bit.ly/1tyCJSP
Hi. I know what you mean, I was not expecting them to come so soon. Chances are we may not get any more, so taking advantage to get a supply of frost photos is what needs to happen!
Cheers Sarah : o )