It’s Friday, the kids are home from school with their second snow day in a row, and it’s Valentine’s Day…. but it’s not a gardening day….
Snow, snow, and snow. At least the morning dawned sunny and bright so there’s hope for a change.
I won’t complain, I actually like the snow, and this steady snow cover and lack of ice storms is keeping all the early risers safe asleep under a protective blanket, still it’s tough hearing about snowdrops and hellebores in full bloom across Europe while mine are two feet under.
It’s a good argument for winter interest. “Dallas Blues” panicum is still as perky as it was in October, and the reddish tones are nice with or without the white. A few evergreens would compliment the grass, plus a “Midwinter Fire” red twig dogwood would look good….. (the dogwood is on my lookout list since last winter) but I’m sure I’ll be saying the same thing next year (interest in winter interest drops to near zero once the snowdrops appear!)
Things are supposed to warm up next week with temperatures finally going above freezing, and I can’t wait to see a couple sprouts and signs of spring. That will be nice, but as long as things are locked away in snow and ice my spring fever stays in remission…. spring sprouts and a thaw will kill my resolve. Right now the front border screams cabin fever a lot more than anything related to spring.
By the way, the odd lumps are snowman and snowlady bodies. It’s all part of a whole new winter world out there with the tropical border acting as a sled run, the cyclamen bed as the foundation for a snow fort, and dried hydrangea as excellent snowperson hair. Looks like we’ll be enjoying it for at least another week or two!
sorta like suburbia 
Your snowdrops and hellebores will be fine under their cosy duvet of snow and just think, you will be enjoying yours when ours are long over! That is some serious snow you have there, stay warm and safe!
Thanks Pauline, I’ve been getting by just a little better thanks to your snowdrop posts!
Frank
I know what you mean about losing interest in winter interest once spring arrives. I’m resolving to be disciplined about it this year and at least get more evergreens in the ground.
After our second snow-and-ice event of the year, today it’s 55 degrees. We watched an avalanche of ice cascade down our roof and onto my viburnum (fortunately, amazingly, it came through with minimal damage. Temps will increase until next Thursday when it’s projected to be–can you believe it?–78 degrees. And I thought I had mud before.
Hang in there. If you get the fidgets you can always head out to the garage and look at the cyclamen. Still waiting patiently for mine to emerge.
Wow, 78!? I can’t imagine it right now, but at least we are just almost at freezing today with only a little more snow predicted for tonight. I was glad to see you missed the worst of the ice!
I am enjoying the cyclamen, they are a nice sight on a cold day. The new seeds haven’t sprouted yet, but I was poking around again and might have a few breaking the surface this week! I think it’s been a little cool back there this winter, things are behind even with the shelter and light.
You’re right. I really need to focus on winter interest during the warmer months. It’s just that I’m quite happy to hide in the house when it gets cold, and just don’t regret it as much as say not having enough tulips come springtime!
Wow! that’s a lot of snow. Arkansas would have to shut down indefinitely if we got that much. The sunshine is nice though!
Haha! The south has limped along through some very unexpected weather so far this winter, I’m sure many a schoolchild has been thrilled by the sight of this snow and ice!
The kids in our community have missed 18 days! We have no snow plows and they are going to school today and will have to go most of their spring break and probably won’t get our until the middle of June.
😦
School on Saturdays! A nightmare come true for kids 😦
I can’t believe you’re up to 18 days, I guess without snowplows and waiting for a thaw the days really rack up. I hope this is it for you now!
Love all your snow! I am almost envious, as we barely had any, but my snowdrops look like they might open very soon, so I’m hoping to actually see them flower this year! Enjoy the snow and have a great weekend building snowpeople!
Thanks Cathy! Always nice to find a fellow snow lover. I’m all for a short winter, but it is still February here, and as long as it’s cold we might as well have some snow to make it interesting 🙂
…. but I am still a bit envious of your snowdrops
That is a lot of snow. Hope your spring will be full and rich–you’ve earned it.
Funny you should say that, I think snow actually brings nitrogen down out of the atmosphere, and a good snowy winter does make for a rich spring!
“It’s tough hearing about snowdrops and hellebores in full bloom across Europe while mine are two feet under.” I agree, and yet I can’t stop looking! During the last thaw (January 13th, to be exact), I took a stroll around the yard and found both snowdrop and crocus tips poking out of the ground. I keep reminding myself that the snow protects them, but it’s not as consolatory as I could wish.
Oh I hear you. I remember that day or two when the snow last melted (ok maybe we had a few more days of open ground here than you did) I wandered the yard every chance I had and looked at the same dozen shoots again and again. I think it’s easier on me when everything is covered with a snowy blanket. I can focus on other things like eating and sleep 🙂
We have lots of snow as well, which has gotten pretty tiresome to my mind. it was 15 degrees this morning and the sun was shining, which felt positively balmy.
We went up to 34 today, I almost pulled out the shorts! Too bad it’s supposed to drop down to zero again in the next few days…. but I see a 45 towards the end of the week, and maybe there’s some hope for you too!
I should think it must be so hard to keep positive with so much snow. It is harder for gardeners than for ordinary people. We need to be out there with our hands in the soil.
Lovely icicles though.
I’ll keep positive until the first thaw comes and I see some of the damage the winter has wrought… then I’ll start to clean up and with the first blooms all will be forgotten!
I think a cold snowless winter is worse. To be able to see the garden but not be able to do anything is much more frustrating.
I hear many others complaining about the weather and relentless snow and I just smile. We don’t live in Morocco after all, so why is winter such a surprise? Still spring will be a treat 🙂
Quite a lot of snow, Frank, but a sprinkling compared to what I used to have in my last garden (small comfort I guess). Your grasses look good though and you ought to follow the winter interest philosphy. I dedicated one border to this unloved season and am very happy with it. Do you also have red cardinals? Stay warm and keep your chin up…spring told me it’s on its way to you 🙂
Thanks for passing on the message from spring, but I’ll be much happier when she makes the delivery herself 🙂
I would love to have even more snow. At this time of year when the sun becomes stronger and ice doesn’t sit around for endless weeks I really enjoy a good storm followed by bright sunshine.
I’m not sure if I would enjoy real mountain snow. When I hear reports from out west of snowfalls measured in feet and not inches I think I draw the line. At least here I only have to shovel the walks and drive…. not the roof and windows!
I am glad to read a blog where the photos show what is going on in my garden in SE PA. It is very frustrating seeing all the snowdrops in full bloom in the UK and knowing that many of mine were blooming way before this in previous years. I like snow, but I am sick of it—three storms in three days is too much. Watching the Olympics is the only thing keeping me sane. I looked at my records and last year I started potting snowdrops from outside to fill my customers’ orders on February 13. Warm weather on the ay though!!!
I’ve got my fingers crossed too! We have snow predicted for Tuesday, but then warmer temperatures after that…. but then the long range forecast drops down to single digits again as lows! On the plus side, nothing much has sprouted that risks being damaged, but like you my records from last year show the first snowdrop blooming Jan 31… this year the same clump is still (fortunately) just a green nubbin under the snow.
This winter the quote around here is “Just finished shoveling the driveway… time to shovel the driveway.”
Hang in there, I’m hoping we will be worthy of a beautiful spring this year, with no heat waves and no late frosts. I can hope, right?