Once in twenty years...minus 12c.

We, and our gardens, thrive on Gulf Stream warmth and we grow with nonchalant arrogance, plants that flourish in Madeira, Spain and Portugal; exotic sub-tropical species like orleander, echium, aeoniums, aloes, hibiscus and protea... just bung 'em in, wish them well and off they shoot without a second thought of the English climate. We were well and truly caught out, overnight I was left with black, slimy, frost-scorched, mucously-droopy plants.

Sometime around the middle of the month we experienced what Living in Cornwall is certainly not about! Along with the rest of the UK, it was once- in- twenty -years cold. I'm always going on about what I can grow in my garden with a certain smugness to friends and family who live up- country.

I'm leaving everything for now until the frost threat has past and then see if I can salvage anything with damage limitation pruning and hope that my favourite nurseryman, Trevor Triggs has kept his stock cosy and warm so that I can replace plants in the spring.

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