The mild start to 2013 is now a distant memory as a week of snow and frost is a reminder that we are in the middle of Winter. Only a week ago, spring bulbs were pushing their way through the surface of the soil and buds were forming on the trees, but 13 centimetres of snow has put an early start to Spring on hold.
Ice has formed around the bubble pot as snow piles on top of the dead heads of the hydrangea.
After a light covering of snow on the 13th, five centimetres fell on the 14th as the thermometer plunged to freezing. Two days respite from the snow followed before another dusting on the 17th.
The bare branches of the weeping acer stand out against the frozen pond.
It was on the 18th that the cold really began to bit as an Atlantic low raced into the south west, colliding with a Scandinavian high which had taken residence over the country. As the low pressure system met the colder air, a prolonged snowfall occurred.
Within 24 hours, 8.5 centimetres of snow fell as the mercury stayed below freezing all day. Night time temperatures reached -6.4°C on the 17th.
Too cold for dining outside as several centimetres of snow lie on the patio furniture.
Although not as bad as December 2010, when temperatures remained below freezing for six days, the current cold spell shows no signs of easing, and could continue to bring misery for a few more days yet.