More snow and sub-zero temperatures with the thermometer set to drop even further. This must be the coldest spell for five or ten years. Horticulturalists talk about "hardy" and "tender" plants. Of course all plants are hardy in their natural habitat but tender in the UK context generally refers to tropical plants that can be grown here in mild conditions i.e. not less than several degrees above freezing. 

 There are further distinctions like half-hardy, frost hardy etc. but this diary mainly concerns species that are most definitely hardy. These Narcissus 'February Gold' are starting to form flowers and will simply be "put on ice" so to speak by the current weather. This variety of Daffodil is a cross between two wild species N. pseudonarcissus and N. cyclamanineus and can be relied upon to live up to its name.