The weather gods decided to give us a treat and, just as our daughters are about to arrive for Christmas, they turned Edmonton into a winter postcard. This would be corny on a calendar but in real life it’s magnificent. They will have a Christmas of childhood dreams – and shopping mall songs.

It’s hard to imagine that so much white could exist outside my window. It snowed all day  and all night. People are wading through the snow as if in a rice paddy and not a speck of dirt is anywhere to be seen. It’s an auspicious sign for the garden as roots start to die when they get below -10 C. Every inch of snow provides extra insulation. My plants must bet sleeping soundly and will wake up refreshed and ready to bloom.