The garden in winter

We had our first frost yesterday. It's still light, just enough to make the parsley pretty but not enough to kill it.

but the frost covers went up over the lavender. A deep mulch and a hut should keep off the worst of the frost. I hope.

 

Yesterday G and I noticed that our  rye is being chomped. And today I caught the culprits- two flocks of maybe 20 birds. The chap who looks like he's wearing a bandit mask is the White-crested Laughing Thrush, his partner is the White-throated Laughing Thrush. Thieves, both. 

When it's this cold, we are glad for anything that looks warm. Like the persimmon tree.

And this is the time to bottle sunshine for late winter.

Jars of lemon marmalade. Lemons from our tree, the recipes here and here.