This December was the coldest for over one hundred years. Certainly I have never seen so much snow in England. Because only the main roads were cleared, it was impossible for us to go further than a trudge to the few shops within walking distance. There was no way we could think of taking the car out. However, we survived! So did our birds, who were kept well fed over the whole time. We were even visited by a woodpecker and a pheasant. In spite of the snow I was able to get to the castle on Boxing Day. By the end of the month we were back to our normal green garden.
This is how the garden looked on the first day of the month. (01/12/10)
George was soon busy with the snow shovel. (01/12/10)
View from the office window to the neighbours’ back gardens (01/12/10)
By 2pm there were nearly 14 inches of snow. (01/12/10)
Garden view (01/12/10)
The next morning this was the view from the front of the house. (02/12/10)
View from the east side of the house … (02/12/10)
… and from the back top landing facing south (02/12/10)
View towards the office (02/12/10)
Front door view to the vegetable garden (02/12/10)
The bird bath under snow (02/12/10)
Snow drift on the driveway (02/12/10)
Snow drift on the terrace (02/12/10)
Acer (02/12/10)
The 'Biergarten' and office (02/12/10)
West side of house … (03/12/10)
… with the gate to the vegetable garden (03/12/10)
George feeds the birds. (03/12/10)
George struggles to return after feeding the birds. (03/12/10)
A thaw is on the way. (04/12/10)
The snow is back again – here on a fern. (17/12/10)
The house from the back garden (17/12/10)
Frozen grapes – food for the blackbirds (18/12/10)
Snow in the front garden (18/12/10)
A cold blackbird (20/12/10)
Snowy rosehips (20/12/10)
A pheasant visits the garden on Christmas Day. (25/12/10)
A collared dove eyes the feeder. (25/12/10)
A tit checks what food is available … (25/12/10)
… and so does a finch. (25/12/10)
Rich Clark – Any Other Name