Six on Saturday - 2 December 2023 Chilly weather round up.

Its been 'parky' for sure. At  -2 C this morning when I went to look at the garden and take some pictures,  with several layers, hat etc, you can tell I am fairly caught up with continuing to keep up with the weekly SOS.  We haven't had any snow, and the frost have penetrated plants and pots. I am joining in with Jim and others as usual. 

With no green-house most plants have to brave the elements and only time will tell what the survival rate will be.  

1. Some succulents that were in the conservatory have been moved into the house.  An example is this Portulacaria afra 'Variegata', which is now sitting in the only south facing window in my shower room.

2. Plants that were outside looking as if they are suffering from the cold have been moved to the conservatory:

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web'

It doesn't seem to want to grow the well patterned leaves anymore, perhaps it doesn't like being in a pot!

3. With the frost and freezing fog one of the noticeable things in the garden have been the cobwebs festooned all around, cobwebs of differing types of construction, which explains why wrens and other small birds are seen explored all around.

 Japanese Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata

 4. The Fuchsia is definitely frozen and has that end of season look.

 Last year I cut this fuchsia as I did others right down to the ground before the frosts and they came back as strong as ever, and therefore I am going to take the chance to do the same when the temperature rise a little later in the week.

5. When I saw the first little snowdrop of the season, I knew it was time to prepare the Conservatory bed ready for its Spring Act, which often starts mid December.  I have been urged by a friend and also the gardening media not to cut back plants,  but if left the bulbs would all be covered by dying and rotting foliage, and for this bed that is not the look to enhance or indeed encourage the emerging vegetation.  It looks sparse now and every emerging shoot can be seen!

6. This year's cyclamen seed order are now planted up but staying in the utility room until the first seeds emerge.  They will then go into the conservatory which is kept at around 7 C, then in the spring they will move to the shady side wall.  Thanks Jim for reminding me last week to get on with the sowing.  Looking at my notes I sowed last year's seeds as soon as they arrived as well.

It is hard to think that even now we can get on with things in the garden, far nicer to read up and browse other SOS bloggers' posts till it get a little warmer.