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Today we got our first proper frost. The roofs of the buildings are dusted with white, the grass is crispy underfoot and the seedheads are glittering with ice - at least they are when the sun breaks through the lowering cloud. All very lovely

higher odds on getting a hard frost which, I think, is even more beautiful. Snow blankets and muffles the features in the garden turning all a soft virgin white - even rubbish heaps and messy areas are suddenly transformed into something clean

After the recent soft mists and bright days I'm going to formally declare that autumn is with us. Not picture book autumn, with flaring red leaves and dustings of frost, but a sort of pubescent autumn. This is a lovely time of year - everything

I don't know about you lot but I'm extremely bored of snow, frost and cold, and I need something distinctly unwintery to lift my spirits.I could eat a lot of chocolate, which would be comforting, though probably not a very good idea if I wish

as if hit by frost. It flowered extremely well but there are no pods and none of the exuberant growth". I didn't have much idea what could have caused this problem, so wasn't able to offer a useful solution.In a very spooky Twilight Zone moment, the very

.But: they are not the easiest fruit to use: they are very hard and you can't eat them raw unless bletted (softened to mush by frost - like the medlar which is another neglected fruit). The Romans stewed them with honey (and surprisingly) leeks. In Syria it is used in lamb stew

and look at leaves now (take a morning off work if you have to). This is such a brief moment and all it needs is a sharp frost or a shower of rain and they will be instantly transformed from hanging jewels to a rustle on the pavement.

and it is one of my great pleasures. The dark green leaves go perfectly with the aged brick, in the spring it is covered with frothy white flowers and come the autumn the branches are laden with red berries. When the hard frosts come we then have a wonderful

and so that there is something to catch the frost.However, some plants are looking pretty appalling and are best chopped down as soon as they're passed their best. This was brought home to me the other day, as there is a rodgersia by my front door that

like plums: never in the winter or during wet weather - for fear of silverleaf. Find them a sheltered place as they blossom quite early, so are a bit vulnerable to frosts. However, do not be scared off as there are lots of cultivars (some even from