Thursday 6 January 2011

The green, green grass


Its so green, the grass in my garden. Greener than its looked for a very long time. But how can it be after the harshest winter for a 100 years. I think its because the 8 inches of snow we have had has actually protected it from the sub zero temperatures.


During December the temperatures by day were as low -3 degrees if not lower. Before the snow, the ground was rock solid after days of the harshest frosts I have ever seen, that created the most beautiful effect on everything it touched. Then with a layer of snow that lay on the ground for perhaps as long as two weeks, the ground temperature could start to rise again. Once the snow cleared the grass was already springing back into life to reveal this lush carpet of green.


So while the garden was covered with this second helping of snow the priority again has been to keep the water in the bird bath de-iced and a supply of food for the birds.



This Christmas I was hoping to enjoy my own homegrown Brussels and parsnips. However, because of the big freeze it has been impossible to harvest anything. Hopefully they will survive this weather and be edible for a January meal instead.