Dear friends,
I know that Phillipa Gregory does thorough and dependable research for herbooks. So was it colder in the England of the 1500's? I believe I've read it was. Here's another lovely quotation about a snowy garden in those times.
"The gardens, the walkways, the walls and the allees around Greenwich all tookon a marvellous whiteness as it snowed and then froze and then snowed again.
In the pleasure gardens the espaliered walkways were frosted. On the sunny
mornings the spiders' webs shone with white crystals like magical lacemaking thrown over the thinnest branches. Every twig, every thinnest blade was lined with
white, as if an artist had gone round the whole garden determined to make one see the details of every branch on every tree." p. 486, "The Other Boleyn Girl,
by Phillipa Gregory.
Reference to the frost or ice on twigs and trees and grass reminds me of mychildhood in Hamilton, Ontario, near Lake Ontario. Winter there is
different from winter here in this dry inland valley. There, near one of the Great Lakes it was damper, and we used to have ice storms, and mists that could cause the kind of crystal making described above. Overnight our commonplace world
could become fairyland. The sunshine of morning made everything shine and gleam and twinkle as though there were diamonds everywhere! I remember walking on
top of deep snow because after it snowed in the night sleet had fallen and given
the snow a strong crust of ice. Ice and sleet isn't easy on power lines and telephone wires, or on tree branches that often break off from the extra weight.
It is hard on car drivers, but it was joy to be alive for a young child like me!
Here, in this dry valley far from the ocean we have light, fluffy flakes and long lasting squeaky snow which stays clean. When it is cold and dry snow makes creaking noises under foot. Here we never have ice storms or sleet. There are no
whiteouts, or blizzards. Although dangerous, I rather miss them, you know.
That there were spider webs to be outlined like lace by the frost means thatit was much milder in that garden than it was in Hamilton, or here, too. There
were spiders still about to weave the webs. Here it is much too cold for spiders or other insects. Their egg sacks are all tucked away in sheltered little places, ready to repopulate our world in the spring.
Those kinds of frost she described must be reserved for islands like Britain where the snow comes sporadically and leaves quite soon. Humid places like Niagara
Falls where we also lived for many years are another special condition. The magnificent falls are enough themselves to coat the trees and everything nearby with spray which freezes and coats everything anywhere nearby with a thick carapace
of strong white ice. It is a fine sight!
Friendly greetings to you all. May these post cool you down if you're too hot,
and introduced the joys of snow and winter to those of you who live in warm areas and haven't experienced it yet.
Once I was in Mexico at Christmastime. It warm and summery and Christmas carols
sounded strange to me in the heat. There were Christmas trees imported from Canada for sale. I immediately felt homesick for my dear Canada and it's pines and spruces and wintertime snow and ice, and all the freshness and fragrance they
bring. Snow even has its own scent. I'm sure those of you in cold parts of China know what I mean, but it may be a surprise to people living in the south who
have never smelled snow coming.
Mary
