After the Snow!

The snowfall of last week was the heaviest recorded in Ireland since 1949 and left gardeners wondering what was going to be lost, what damaged and what would survive. Our garden is now clear of snow and we have our first opportunity to begin the tidy up after the storm. There were some casualties, no disasters and many signs of promise for the future.

An upright Irish yew, planted over thirty years ago, leaned over under the weight of the snow and brought to a head my thoughts that I had allowed it go too tall. We had wired it to keep it in shape for several years but could not longer reach high enough for this to be effective. With the damage done by the snow there was no possibility of it regaining its tidy shape again and I took to it with saw and secateurs and reduced its height by almost half.

The upright Irish yew, weighed down by the heavy snow

The upright Irish yew in the process of being brought down in size

Down to size

And tidied up again.

Elsewhere, a colletia of nearly 4 metres has been reduced to its main trunk, the entire crown snapped off by the weight of snow while a Thuga ‘Smaragd’ and Camellia ‘Donation’ lost large branches. All will recover!

These events can lead to an amount of worry but, generally, nature carries on. If something is lost; there will be surely be something so replace it; damage will repair and plants will continue to grow.

A primula emerging from the snow

As though nothing happened – these snowdrops are all up again and looking as fresh as ever

As though the snow had never been here – Galanthus ‘Spindlestone Surprise’

Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’, perfectly reliable and hardy!

Purple Sprouting Brocolli provided much needed food for the pigeons while the ground was covered in snow. I suppose we can’t begrudge them! It will recover.

One of the pheasants which come for breakfast each morning and all survived the cold snap

Crocus in grass, bright and cheerful – as the gardener should be also!