We had -32C here on the 6th of Jan 2009. Killed off all my evergreen viburnums, an eleagnus, a choisya, several dwarf conifers, lots of clems including all the alpinas, montanas and macropetalas, New Dawn and Guninées rose and cut my whopping great Kiftsgate back to one surviving stem about 6' high.
We've had the more usual -20Cs since then and the last two winters have hardly had any frost worth mentioning so Kiftsgate has finally recovered and is covering the front, south facing wall of the house beautifully again. It's been so cool and wet for a month or more that it's only just opening its flowers now - about 3 weeks later than usual.
The hottest I have ever been was 42C in the shade at Uluru but that's dry heat and do-able. I'm not good in sticky heat.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I used to belong to the Ozzie toddlers' group here - by invitation - and ended up running it. Visited Oz in 2000 to see friends who'd gone home - one family in Manley Heights and another in Canberra. OH visited for 5 weeks and I stayed on an extra 3 weeks with Possum so we could help the latter friend move house - pregnant, working, separated from OH and with one son already who was Possum's best friend till he left.
We started at Magnetic Island to get over jet lag and see the reef then Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide (via Ghan train), Sydney and Canberra. Lots of visits at each place and in between. Very hot in January and strange to have Xmas lights in hot weather.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Wow, that was quite a journey, Obelixx. I lived in Darwin for 13 years, so know about hot sweaty Christmases. My 3 children were born there, one in Feb and another in December - not the best time to be heavily pregnant. I'll take the cold over the heat any day.
I was born in December '62 and my sister was born in January '47. Two of the worst winters on record in UK. Icy roads almost stopper Mother getting to hospital on both occasions.
My elder daughter was born in the middle of a heatwave in July '89 . It was 30C that day.
It takes a bit of mental juggling to think about north facing rooms being cool. Just like our opposite seasons. A bit like watching Gardeners World programs - I'm always 6 months out of sync.
How was your day at work, Hosta? It must feel strange being back.
Back from our lovely trip to the Cotswolds. Was a little soggy (ie torrential downpours and thunderstorms!) at times - but nothing to spoil our fun.
Everybody sounds to have been very busy & it seems strange seeing Pat's pictures of the frost when it's been so warm and close here.
Sorry to hear about your day out Fidget - I've wanted to go to Highgrove for a while but I don't fancy your experience. Hope you are feeling much better now.
And everyone else with chestikoffs & exploding dogs....
We went to Hidcote on Monday morning. Got there early doors in pouring rain in the campervan. Directed to the far end of the carpark where there is a superb view over the surrounding countryside so we sat, had a pot of tea & waited for the rain to ease - which it did.
The gardens were superb & ever so slightly bedraggled because heavy rain in an English garden in mid June does that to a garden. IMO they looked all the better for it & made me feel slightly better that some of my garden was looking a bit bashed about when we got home. A wet Monday morning kept the number of fellow visitors at a manageable level & the sun came after an hour or so. The perfumes were enhanced by the rain - lovely....
A few pics to whet your appetites:
Loved the garden and even OH (who doesn't 'do' gardens was impressed! Would have enjoyed going to Kiftsgate too but decided to stay in OH's good books & save it for another time
Last edited: 15 June 2016 17:23:55
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Posts
We had -32C here on the 6th of Jan 2009. Killed off all my evergreen viburnums, an eleagnus, a choisya, several dwarf conifers, lots of clems including all the alpinas, montanas and macropetalas, New Dawn and Guninées rose and cut my whopping great Kiftsgate back to one surviving stem about 6' high.
We've had the more usual -20Cs since then and the last two winters have hardly had any frost worth mentioning so Kiftsgate has finally recovered and is covering the front, south facing wall of the house beautifully again. It's been so cool and wet for a month or more that it's only just opening its flowers now - about 3 weeks later than usual.
The hottest I have ever been was 42C in the shade at Uluru but that's dry heat and do-able. I'm not good in sticky heat.
I can't imagine that cold.
I didn't know you'd been to the NT, Obelixx.
I used to belong to the Ozzie toddlers' group here - by invitation - and ended up running it. Visited Oz in 2000 to see friends who'd gone home - one family in Manley Heights and another in Canberra. OH visited for 5 weeks and I stayed on an extra 3 weeks with Possum so we could help the latter friend move house - pregnant, working, separated from OH and with one son already who was Possum's best friend till he left.
We started at Magnetic Island to get over jet lag and see the reef then Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide (via Ghan train), Sydney and Canberra. Lots of visits at each place and in between. Very hot in January and strange to have Xmas lights in hot weather.
Wow, that was quite a journey, Obelixx. I lived in Darwin for 13 years, so know about hot sweaty Christmases. My 3 children were born there, one in Feb and another in December - not the best time to be heavily pregnant. I'll take the cold over the heat any day.
Funny Pat.
I was born in December '62 and my sister was born in January '47. Two of the worst winters on record in UK. Icy roads almost stopper Mother getting to hospital on both occasions.
My elder daughter was born in the middle of a heatwave in July '89 . It was 30C that day.
That's odd Hosta. One way is uncomfortably hot and the other is freezing cold and dangerous to drive.
What we all want is Camelot.
Mercifully my ex wife had a North facing room so it was cool in there. Not so for me visiting twice a day.
It takes a bit of mental juggling to think about north facing rooms being cool. Just like our opposite seasons. A bit like watching Gardeners World programs - I'm always 6 months out of sync.
How was your day at work, Hosta? It must feel strange being back.
Good Afternoon All
Back from our lovely trip to the Cotswolds. Was a little soggy (ie torrential downpours and thunderstorms!) at times - but nothing to spoil our fun.
Everybody sounds to have been very busy & it seems strange seeing Pat's pictures of the frost when it's been so warm and close here.
Sorry to hear about your day out Fidget - I've wanted to go to Highgrove for a while but I don't fancy your experience. Hope you are feeling much better now.
And everyone else with chestikoffs & exploding dogs....
We went to Hidcote on Monday morning. Got there early doors in pouring rain in the campervan. Directed to the far end of the carpark where there is a superb view over the surrounding countryside so we sat, had a pot of tea & waited for the rain to ease - which it did.
The gardens were superb & ever so slightly bedraggled because heavy rain in an English garden in mid June does that to a garden. IMO they looked all the better for it & made me feel slightly better that some of my garden was looking a bit bashed about when we got home. A wet Monday morning kept the number of fellow visitors at a manageable level & the sun came after an hour or so. The perfumes were enhanced by the rain - lovely....
A few pics to whet your appetites:
Loved the garden and even OH (who doesn't 'do' gardens was impressed! Would have enjoyed going to Kiftsgate too but decided to stay in OH's good books & save it for another time
Last edited: 15 June 2016 17:23:55
How lovely, Topbird! Worth braving the weather to see the gardens when they were less crowded, I imagine. Thanks for sharing your photos