Well, I wasn't expecting this when I opened the curtains!

I'm not sure the garden was either but then again, the nights have been pretty cold recently so maybe it wasn't as big a shock as I might think?

Snow doesn't worry me as much as a hard frost and everything seemed to bounce back without incident. Good job it wasn't heavier though as the Amelanchier 'Ballerina' (foreground tree) is just coming into flower and doesn't need to be weighed down with soggy snow.

A shock for the birds however, plenty of food put out and some water. They've begun to take the dog fluff that I've been putting out so nests must be well under construction. I've put up 2 nest boxes - small ones which I was lucky enough to be given as gifts. One would really suit a family of Blue Tits and the other would be just right for a Robin - at least that's what I think, but the birds have yet to be convinced. The garden is quite young still for nests - not a lot of cover and at least one cat that likes to sit below the feeders in expectation - until the dogs go out!

Plenty of bulbs beginning to pop. Here are some lovers of good drainage in small pots on the table, Narcissus 'Snipe' at the front, Tulipa humilis 'Odalisque' back right and Narcissus 'Claire' front left (never grown 'Claire' before so I'm keen to see what she's like when she comes through). When they're finally over I'll plant them out in the garden - make good use of the gravelly soil that I've got. I've tried that with some of the other similar small Narcissi (like 'Hawera' and 'Segovia') and Tulips that I've had in pots and it seems to have worked well, particularly with the Tulips.

Below are some that I planted last year that appear to be happily establishing at the foot of the Peach that I'm trying to espalier. The Peach grew from a stone that someone had chucked into the front garden where I found it sprouting! It was in a pot for a couple of years and then I planted it out last summer and it has really appreciated the move. This year there is one dark pink flower! Sadly it came just before the frosts so I'm not sure it will have had chance to set. Strictly speaking I should have planted it on an east facing wall but I only have one of those and it doesn't have soil at the base of it so it's on a south facing fence. Apparently that means they flower earlier and so are more likely to be caught by frost but at least he will get sun and warmth. Also I need to take the top two branches back to the height of my top wire to encourage stronger side growth but that's a summertime job for stone fruits.

Forecast for -1ºC tonight but all above freezing for a while after that so this weekend I'm going to get stuck into the 'new' border. I'm going to split the Phlox and Aster and then plant some in front of the 'Generous Gardener' (climbing rose) and then some in other areas around the garden. Very satisfying. Also, Kniphofia 'Rich Echoes' arrived from Avon Bulbs this week so that can go in the sunny bed but toward the back as it can grow to 120cm. I've heeled him in for the time being - better than staying in his plastic bag.

My dahlias don't look too good sadly. D. 'Totally Tangerine' has suffered quite a lot of soggy rot over the winter and is consequently much less of a tuber! Potting them up this weekend is another job, along with maybe bringing the Agapanthus out of the shed. The Agapanthys are fine with good green shoots coming through which is great to see. Ah well, plenty to look forward to and plenty of work to do! Enjoy!