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REAL WINTER ARRIVES WITH THE FIRST SNOW, USUALLY IN DECEMBER. THE WATER SURFACE ON THE MOAT AND THE PONDS FREEZES, THINLY AT FIRST, THEN SO THICKLY THAT ONE CAN SLIDE ON IT. DAYS ARE SHORT AND COLD, BUT WHEN THE SNOW EVENTUALLY SETS THE WHOLE GARDEN ACQUIRES A NEW BEAUTY OF ITS OWN. IT IS ALMOST COLOURLESS, BUT RICH WITH LONG SHADOWS ON THE SNOW AND CONTORTED SILHOUETTES OF BARE BRANCHES IN THE SKY. IN THE FIRST SUNNY DAYS IN FEBRUARY, ONE STARTS LOOKING FOR THE FIRST SNOWDROP TO BLOOM..