The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Beastly weather in Bracknell

AndrewR

By AndrewR

23 comments


Well, the Beast from the East brought more snow to Bracknell than we have seen since 2010. At first, it looked like we might escape fairly lightly.

27th February

But later in the day it started to come down more heavily
28th February, early morning

And continued for much of the day
28th February, late afternoon

Into March. It snowed all day on Thursday
2nd March

There was more snow yesterday afternoon but it stopped overnight, to be replaced by fog.

Now it has turned much brighter, temperatures are inching upwards (4C forecast for today), then we should have rain and 10C next week. Spring at last? Fingers crossed.

UPDATE:
Sunday morning – a quick thaw yesterday. Normal service should be resumed soon.

More blog posts by AndrewR

Previous post: Paradise Gardens

Next post: Carol Klein



Comments

 

I think we had the same amount as you Andrew, we thought we would only get a light covering.....
At the moment it is raining, so hopefully that will be the end of it.....

3 Mar, 2018

 

At least you won't need to water your pots, they have a reservoir of moisture on the top! Raining here now too.

3 Mar, 2018

 

Oh look another blog with colour coordinating tubs and beds, aren't we all clever this year, I know its no joke really but what else can we do.....Our temps aren't rising much at the moment Andrew but we do have a predicted temps rising during next week, think our rain is supposedly coming on Monday, that hopefully will see an end to the snow....

3 Mar, 2018

 

I'm sure it was warmer than forecast out there today. It certainly felt a lot warmer without the easterly wind. A very fast thaw has set in, and now rain. By Monday, I think this will all be a bad dream.

3 Mar, 2018

 

We escaped fairly lightly, light coverings, cold winds and then howling wind blowing what we did have everywhere! Like you all rain forecast which should get rid of the rest, but will the ground be able to absorb yet more rain, or are we back to a mud-fest?
You have obviously been busy, all those pots neatly in a row waiting for Spring!

4 Mar, 2018

 

I hope, like us, your garden is snow-free now Andrew. Oh I just saw the final photo ... all gone! Do you protect Maureen from the elements at all?

4 Mar, 2018

 

I know it didn't last too long, but, it was most unpleasant especially the wind, I was walking around with 4 layers on!! and that was in the house! worst winter in the 19 years we have been here.....hopefully all over now, she says optimistically..... everything the ponds etc all back to normal.....

4 Mar, 2018

 

Mega thaw has set in here today, it was very foggy which actually did help, no rain yet but it has been forecast for us, not as clear as your garden Andrew but I can see Hellebores and a fair amount of greenery, we are getting there, to say I am pleased is an understatement...Oh I forgot to say, the birds are having a field day scratching around and finding some earth to forage in...

4 Mar, 2018

 

We still have a lot of snow but as with you, Andrew the snow is beginning to thaw. I'll be glad to get back to normal. It took me over an hour to clear the drive to get the car out.

4 Mar, 2018

 

Nice to see the sun shining on your shrubs anyway Andrew!
Its great that the snow's gone! I still have a very sore wrist from a fall on the ice when I was trying to dig a safe path for the postman - who didn't come after all...
I guess we'll all be hoping never to have to experience wind chill temps like those again!

4 Mar, 2018

 

Shirley - no, Maureen is pretty tough.
The two bears, Bruno and Barney are no more though. They finally rotted last year, but I have ordered replacements who should arrive next month. Then they will need to be trained! :-)

4 Mar, 2018

 

Good news for Maureen ... now you will need to name the new bears!

5 Mar, 2018

 

It will be Bruno and Barney again. The original ones came from Derwent Bay Bears who name them according to the model - a bit like cars?

5 Mar, 2018

 

I find this blog interesting because if anyone is struggling with a garden plan to improve their patch in the spring........
Terracotta bricks make a warm design for winter days.

5 Mar, 2018

 

Diane - one thing to note, you need to use engineering bricks for the top course. Ordinary bricks are porous and alternate freezing and thawing will cause them to crumble.

5 Mar, 2018

 

Kettering Bricks are the hardest ones in the country. These flats were built from recycled local bricks. My pictures hang on steel pins that only penetrated 5/8 of an inch into the plaster ! Its a marvel they have stayed in place 18 years.
Neighbour's dad brought an electric drill to Rawlplug the
walls, and they broke the drill !
Incidentally, did you deliberately leave the Runner Bean
poles in, or are they for Sweet Peas ?

5 Mar, 2018

 

Andrew, I looked at the Derwent Bay Bears website and really would love to have so many of their creations! Very clever carvings ...

5 Mar, 2018

 

Runner bean poles? Where?

5 Mar, 2018

 

Oh gosh. It must have been someone else's photo.
Sorry. I look at them all.

6 Mar, 2018

 

Andrew, what a nuisance isn't it, the snow drifted here, they say the snow insulates the plants to protect from frost don't they, every cloud .......

6 Mar, 2018

 

I’ve just had a pond built didn’t know about the brick thing! Do I need to put another course on top? I’ve just put a photo on my page

7 Mar, 2018

 

SK - ordinary bricks will last a few years but will gradually deteriorate from the freezing/thawing I mentioned. It depends on how long you want your pond to look good. You can either replace the top course of bricks when they get too bad, or have a top course of engineering bricks which are harder and resist the weather better.

7 Mar, 2018

 

Thanks Andrew my husband is going to put some coping bricks or engineering bricks on top, now to get some plants in!

8 Mar, 2018

Add a comment

Recent posts by AndrewR

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    27 Sep, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Aug, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    10 Mar, 2012

  • Gardening with friends since
    13 May, 2014

  • Gardening with friends since
    22 Oct, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 Oct, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 May, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    5 May, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    26 Feb, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    7 Jun, 2017

  • Gardening with friends since
    31 Mar, 2010