Weather early 2009

[Anthony Darby]

I don't think cycads are hardy in the UK?

Here is Lucy's snowman outside the front gate. She rolled the bottom half up the hill from her primary school at 3 p.m. today, with the help of some friends.

[maggiepie]

I don't think cycads are hardy in the UK?

Neither did I Anthony, but I am wondering what the plant is.

[Anthony Darby]

A big fern.

[Michael J Campbell]

A Tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica, from what I can see.

[ichristie]

Hi All, the snow pictures are just great a bit dissapointed in your nude snowperson Anthony poor soul must be freezing at least get a hat and scarf. The snow is still heavy here so will see what morning brings, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[maggiepie]

A Tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica, from what I can see.

Well now I am even more curious, I woudn't have thought those would be hardy there either.

[art600]

From watching Gardener's World I remember Alan Titchmarsh wrapping all his tree ferns to protect them from our winters.  They are very expensive to buy and were very well wrapped.

[Anthony Darby]

Mine are well wrapped, although I was rather late this year. The trick is to buy as tall a plant as your pocket will alow. This usually means B&Q when everything is half price in their sale. The taller they are the more chance of surviving as it raises them above the ground frost. Also, at less than a foot growth in 10 years, they are not likely to outgrow their place in the garden. My two are 8' and 3' tall and securely bubble wrapped.

[ian mcenery]

Paddy you are right Coldfield is very apt nothing higher east of here till the Urals and as far from the sea as you can get on this island

There is however a large area of open woodland around here which gives a lot of protection from strong winds so we do alright in that respect

[Mick McLoughlin]

Mick, is that a snow covered cycad on the right of the gazebo??
Helen the gazebo is actually the greenhouse.

Correct Anthony it is a tree fern purchased from B&Q in their half priced sale, with the added bonus that Mandy said it looked like it was dying so they reduced it by half again.

We didn't wrap it this year, or last as I remember.

[maggiepie]

Mick, is that a snow covered cycad on the right of the gazebo??
Helen the gazebo is actually the greenhouse.

Oh really? How cute is that, I want one!!

[Mick McLoughlin]

Helen,
Here is a link to the post when greenhouse was first put up.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5.msg11#msg11
Cheers
Mick

[maggiepie]

Thanks for the link Mick, the archives are like buried treasure.
I have a small greenhouse and am getting some great tips for cooling it in summer.

[Anthony Darby]

Rain in Dunblane this morning, but still 3" of snow on the ground; 3^oC in Falkirk, 20 miles down the road, and the snow has all gone.

[Carol Shaw]

Raining here too but not much above freezing... threat is for snow starting tonight for rest of week but can we believe them?