Weather- January 2010

[ranunculus]

The effects of the weather are now coming to light.  I have countless old and, for many years, frost resistant pots (large and venerable pots from Sankeys and other proven manufacturers) that have finally succumbed to the -12 degrees we have suffered this winter.  Very expensive and sometimes impossible to locate these large containers will now have to be replaced by (Shush, don't say it too loud, equally expensive plastic monstrosities).
This particular pot holds my largest and oldest Ranunculus lyallii ... the top dressing has dropped a centimetre or two simply due to the bursting of the pot.
Many other examples are coming to light as the weather allows me to investigate more fully.

The second image was captured on the moors near our home a couple of weeks ago and amended on the computer.

[Ragged Robin]

Cliff, what a terrible shame, old terracotta pots have so much character in their own right  - there is a product, a sort of terracotta paste, you can use to repair old favourites but I suppose they would still be a risk in winter....must have been the freeze/thaw/freeze that did it.

Love the sun dome photo - the sun can play such tricks on our imagination 

[jomowi]

Old pots can be mended quite well.  Firstly clean the breaks and make sure the pot is thoroughly dry.  The adhesive to use is old fashioned overnight Araldite  (not the rapid stuff).   Apply the premixed adhesive to both parts of the breaks.  Use elastic bands or anything else the hold the parts together.  Warming (gently) the pot with a heat gun  helps to keep the joint thin and leave to dry in a warm dry place (overnight does).  Surplus glue on the exterior  can be removed with a sharp knife, scraper and emery paper.  If you fitted the bits properly the joins will not be easily spotter.  If the broken pot is still hanging together  put the adhesive on the inside of the pot   along the break and gently warm the outside.  Araldite flows under these conditions and will  penetrate the crack particularly if you gently open it up a little by hand (no tools).  I find several cycles of opening and closing the crack will often result in the adhesive penetrating right through.  When satisfied elastic bands etc again will help to keep the crack closed while setting occurs.  No need to clean up the interior.  Good luck, I have often used these techniques unless the pot is completely smashed into many pieces by dropping

[Sinchets]

I lost my terracotta pots with Ranunculus lyalli, R.crithmifolius and R.insignis in a sudden cold spell we had in Northumberland in the winter of 2001. We were away from home at the time for the Christmas holidays so not much to be done about it. If I'd had a garden I would have had them planted out- the pots were replaceable but the plants weren't.
The lowest temperaturein Bulgaria this morning was reported as -29C on the Danubian Plains in the northeast. Tomorrow is forecast as the coldest morning of the whole winter- so  we shall see if we can 'beat' our own record here in Kamerari 

[cohan]

good luck with broken pots and broken records!
--its getting gradually colder again here, but nothing record breaking-- wed night is forecast at -26, but we havent seen a -30 or -40 all month, so its still nothing, as far as i'm concerned

i have seen various kinds of planters that are supposed to last in severe cold, and not all plastic!-some clayey and concretey fancy things... i havent looked that closely at them since they are not cheap, and anyway, unless the pot is impossibly large, it seems few if any plants will survive in them above ground here anyway!

another option is the 'whiskey barrel' tub-some real wood, some other things; those with actual slats/staves should have enough give to withstand frosts...

i forgot to add--nice shot, cliff--i took a few yesterday of the sun 'spraying' up in a wide beam above clouds at sunset...havent seen them yet..

[TC]

As the weather forecast was for wall-to-wall sunshine on the west coast, we headed up the Clyde.  This was the weather we got !!  A temperature of between 1c at higher levels and 4c on the coast.  Looking north into Argyll, the snow is still evident at about the 2,000 foot ( 600 metre ) level.
However, we had an enjoyable time watching about 16 porpoises " displaying " just off-shore.  They were indulging in synchronised diving in pairs.  I presume that this is some form of mating ritual.  At our local peregrine site. the male (tiercel) was flying about carrying a twig.  Our Eider flock of about 300 birds are also into their courting display which also consists of the birds diving "en masse" simultaneously.
Regardless of the weather, Spring must be on its way.

[Martinr]

Ah Tom, that's cruel. You've made me homesick

[Maggi Young]

Ah Tom, that's cruel. You've made me homesick

 Aw, bless you, Martin.... was it the scenery or the Cal-Mac Ferry that did it? 

[Martinr]

Both!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Martinr]

Memories of the Arran ferry on a Friday night, in the bar, guitars, mandolins, singing, beer....followed by a weekend in the hills...a long time ago

[Maggi Young]

Memories of the Arran ferry on a Friday night, in the bar, guitars, mandolins, singing, beer....followed by a weekend in the hills...a long time ago

Last century, I venture to suggest.......

[Martinr]

Indeed

[TC]

Martin
Nothing has changed except the fares!! In Summer they now have two ferries operating a shuttle service.  The Caledonian Isle must have been in for a refit as she was sailing by the Cloch lighthouse when I took the picture.  We caught up with her later down the coast sailing by Bute on her way to Brodick just before sunset - if we could have seen the sun.

[Maggi Young]

Ian  (and assorted Forumists, of course) off to Birmingam tomorrow for the AGS Birmingham World of Bulbs conference.....been snowing here tonight so hope this is not widespread and a hindrance to others going to the event.....hope you all travel safely and have a good time!

[Sinchets]

We are hitting the heady heights of -2C here with sunshine. Will today be the day our mains waterpipes defrost? Seems like forever since we last flushed the toilet