Iced GEMS

Plants that glitter brightly under a layer of frost

- CHRIS MORLEY

Storybook scene

Winter can announce its arrival all too quickly with a magical dusting of frost, transforming the garden into a scene from Narnia. Yet once thawed out, some plants collapse in a mess of black leaves and mushy stems. Avoid plant meltdown by protecting vulnerable specimens before frost hits.

For an idea of when this usually happens in your area, visit lastfrostdate.co.uk.

Diamond life