Views around the grounds and Walled Garden - 08/02/2012.

The weather at home remained cold and frosty. On the way North to Wallington the temperature stayed below 0 oC and it had been snowing at some point during the night. It looked as though snowploughs had been out at sometime with piles of snow pushed against the roadside verges. On reaching Wallington the car park had been cleared and snow pushed into piles. The snow had come last Saturday and Sunday and since then the temperatures had been well below freezing.

On my way to the Walled Garden there was the remnants of snow on East Lawn and as I passed Garden Pond, it was nearly completely frozen over. The ground temperature at the Wallington weather station was recorded as -8oC for overnight. I was the only volunteer today in the Walled Garden and ice on the steep paths made walking difficult - it was easier when pushing and being able to hold onto a wheel barrow.

My job for today was to clear away frozen leaves on the East Garden border and cut back last years planting. The ground remained frozen solid and it was impossible to remove any weeds. The sun shone virtually all day and there were a few visitors who braved the cold. It was not a day to stay still for long and five trips to the compost heap helped me to stay warm.

I took the following photographs as I walked to the Walled Garden and some were taken later in the day:

House entrance from East Lawn.

Griffin Heads on East Lawn.

Griffin Heads on East Lawn.

Griffin Heads and House.

Lichen on gate.

Tree on Four Beeches Walk.

Signs of Spring in East Wood.

Frozen Garden Pond looking through to Portico Walk.

Frozen Garden Pond.

Upper Terrace of Walled Garden.

Snowdrops in the Orchard and Nuttery.

Crocus in the Orchard and Nuttery.

Aconites in the Plum Border.

Aconites in the Plum Border.

Lower Terrace of the Walled Garden.

Garden Pond taken on way out.