You can barely see the hill, it's snowing so heavily
“Finally, a decent snowfall.” That’s my first reaction as an ornamental gardener, thinking about the dormant plants. Snow is a great insulator and keeps the soil–and the roots of plants–warmer than if that same soil were exposed to the air.
This is one reason why Ellen Hornig of Seneca Hill Perennials can grow many plants from South Africa that are supposedly not hardy for her area. Oswego, NY gets a tremendous amount of snow, and those South African natives have no idea it’s below zero two feet above them.
I had to change my plans today because of this weather, but I’m glad for my plants.
Tagged as:
Weather
About the Author
Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.
In its own way, frost may be one of the most beautiful things to happen in your garden all year . . . Don’t miss it. Like all true beauty, it is fleeting. It will grace your garden for but a short while this morning. . . . For this moment, embrace frost as the beautiful gift that it is.
~Philip Harnden
in
A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons
Hi Kathy, love your snow pictures. Here in Colorado Springs our snow generally does not stay on the ground very long because the sun comes out and melts it. We just love it when it does snow though, because we love our mositure. We are considered a semi-arid zone.
Kathy — I so agree about being glad to see that first good snowcover. We are about to break our Dec. snowfall record so I am getting a little tired of it. But, having lived through winters with no snow and freezing temps, this is preferable. Ellen H. was in Madison this fall and we got to see her great images of plants in the wilds of S. Africa!
Keep educating me Kathy!
Shirley
We have a nice blanket of snow too, about 18″ so far. My plants really enjoy it, I just have to shovel some onto the plants under the eaves….but it helps me push one zone at least, sometimes two.
And now, under the snow that has fallen recently in the garden I have a layer of fertilizer just waiting for the spring thaw. More at my new blog. In the years when there was little snow cover the plants really suffered wind burn. Looking forward to spring.
Sue, I think we all get behind in blog reading this time of year. Thanks for thinking of me!
I was just starting to sort laundry, when I came across my book, Cold Climate Gardening, and it made me think of you, and I couldn’t remember if I’d been keeping up with your posts. I had gotten behind in all my blog reading, and I’m not caught up yet.
Merry Christmas!
Sue
There are no snow blankets in Austin, Kathy, as we rocket between near eighties and frost with tearing winds.
But your lovely photos and words remind me how grateful I was when snow covered the Illinois garden before a dip into minus degrees Fahrenheit.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
What beautiful snowy scenes!
I am always relieved when we get a good covering early in the winter – and we surely have that this year!
OH I so agree! My poor perennials were so sad with the freeze, but they are now nestled in their downy, snowy coats. Happy Gardening!!
>^,,^<
Kathy,
The irony of having a zone 7 garden…we appear to be able to grow less hardy plants, but they die off from exposure to our extreme temperature fluctuations…It was 73 yesterday and Monday it will be 17! What the temps don’t get …the wet winters kill!
Beautiful snowy scenery Kathy!
Gail
Gail
Beautiful snow. I wish we had some, but it’s been day after day after day of rain. I’m mildewing, I’m certain, and I’m hoping my plants don’t rot. I worry about all those bulbs I planted. . . . . And some snow would be great for all the baby perennials I planted this fall. You are absolutely right about the benefits of a good snow blanket!
I’m stunned by your snowy vistas. That plants can not only survive but thrive under such conditions is just amazing to me. Dormancy is an alien condition down here in south central Texas.
I’ve never heard that expressed, but I always figured a good snow kept plants more snug than being wind-whipped and exposed. We finally got our first decent snow with this storm too. There’s about 6-8 inches now and it’s still coming down. I heard you might get as much as 14″ where you are! Those’ll be very protected plants!
Looking wistfully at your snow…and your dormant plants.
I hate snow if I have to drive in it
Yes, it’s one of the few things that keep me from completely hating snow. It’s also good for plants that aren’t dormant. After our first heavy snow melted, I was suprised to find so many things looking healthy and fresh, such as Columbine leaves and Epimediums.