This was the view out my kitchen door yesterday morning. We had rain which changed to snow as the day progressed. Because everything was wet, the heavy snow stuck to everything. When the wind picked up, the snow didn’t blow off the branches but added weight to the force of the wind. Consequently branches were falling everywhere.
We were without power for twelve hours. The “nice” thing about a snowstorm at this time of the year is you know it won’t stay around. Although the roads were snow covered in the morning, by mid-afternoon they were merely wet. There is still plenty of snow on the ground but it has already dropped from the foot or so that fell. Friday is the first day where snow is not in the forecast, however. This time last year I was already grubbing out dock roots and planting shrubs. May is going to be a mad, mad rush.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, Marc–thanks for stopping by. Most of the snow is gone by now.
Wow thats a lot of snow. And to think I was whining that we got a half inch at the beginning of April. I am in Kentucky and we were part of the area you mentioned where Spring sprung and then promptly left. I had quite a bit of freeze damage that I complained about on my blog. I feel bad now. I wouldn’t want to trade weather with you.
I’m new to your blog and I really like it. I’ll be back to see your garden successes when you finally do get Spring!
Ah… bent chicken fence is no fun, but at least it’s fixable. I will keep my fingers crossed that the green stuff that doesn’t bend so well was spared!
You only got a foot? I’m just kidding because this snow event was so widespread, even my Zone 5
sissiesneighbors were inundated with it. My travel plans had to change on Monday morning as the town plows were out of commission until mid-morning. Such an ugly mess to deal with and it’s still here. Such heavy snow as it shifted from sleet to snow to sleet to … well anyway. I’m glad native-born residents found it unusual too.Because I haven’t been here too long, this now becomes part of my foundation for what April can be. I just missed being here during the 3 inches of snow that fell on May 17, 2002 but I’ve heard many of the stories.
But the weekend looks to be a beauty.
Kim–I am still waiting for the snow to clear away so I can assess the damage. So far, the only thing that seemed to be affected was our chicken fence. The weight of the snow on the chicken wire pulled it right off the fence posts in many cases.
Ki–I also hope it doesn’t go straight from winter to summer. It’s just what you would expect from such crazy weather.
We got a little bit of ice but not anywhere near the amount of snow you got. At least we’re supposed to finally get some warm weather this weekend! I just hope it doesn’t go from winter to summer, bypassing spring completely. The poor plants and birds are discombobulated.
Yikes… nope, doesn’t look like spring at all! Did the heavy snow damage anything for you–downed branches, bulb foliage not bouncing back, etc.?
Reminds me of my childhood growing up in the Albany area. Snow in May was not unheard of. Is your soil still frozen or have you had enough warm temps to thaw it out?
Twitter: @Annieinaustin
Nope – sure looks like hatepril to me.
Sorry, Kath.
Nope, doesn’t look like spring to me, either. We’ve suddenly started spring again today in my neck of the woods. We had a beautiful, warm, sunny, gorgeous day, which I spent primarily indoors. Blah!!
It looks like deepest winter to me. Good thing you spelled out the differences in snow duration for me. Hang in there!