After recent online shenanigans I finally felt as though I’d got my gardening mojo back today. At least insofar as I was able to appreciate the beauty of nature in its winter form.
I had to decline the offer of more food waste this weekend, not only because it has been too cold for any meaningful decomposition to take place and thus room to be made in the Green Johanna. The simple fact of the matter is that the compost bin lid has spent much of the recent days frozen solid to the bin.
In turn, even though I could have done some more pruning, apart from adding to the growing bug house, any other garden waste would have had to be saved outside the bin. However, I believe that it may be a whopping 5 degrees tomorrow, so who knows what might transpire then!
It’s a decade now since we last had such an extended spell of freezing temperatures. Not achieving more than zero degrees during the day I’d come to reflect on with nostalgia. Still, the weather this winter will be good for killing of pests and diseases. Hopefully, this coming spring, summer and autumn there will be fewer slugs and aphids to contend with.
Growing out of chaos 
It is too cold to garden! It is a pity to turn away compost material but hopefully the donor will understand and bring more when it thaws.
Thankfully, I think they are keen – I knew the family before due to our girls being at school together, so it’s an easier relationship to maintain than one with strangers. But hopefully, we’ll have better weather again very soon, yes!
Having spotted a RAT in the garden I have halted composting, until I am certain it has gone away.
That sounds a good idea!
Just been watching Winterwatch telling us how lovely and interesting rats are. Not convinced. Frost patterns were lovely – we had some but I didn’t photograph them. Now I wish I had done.
You have the memory of the frost patterns, though! And of course the enjoyment of them at the time!
Yes, I was thinking how we have let photography take over from memory just the other day – phones make it so easy.
Yes, they do!
🙂
Jack Frost paints a beautiful picture on window and landscape. A cold winter usually knocks back the slugs a bit, too.
Yes, hopefully it will cull the slugs that were so prevalent last summer. Actually, I’m not sure how long slugs live for, so perhaps it is the eggs that will be killed off by the frost.