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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Before Dawn on Friday Last

 
 
The forecasters had predicted it but one has learned that in this area, with it's many influences (bays, mountains, valleys, etc.) snow is very difficult to accurately predict.  Just the week before, there was similar talk of white precipitation but we got nothing.  So, it was a sweet surprise that we got a little snow on Friday last.  At 5:00 a.m. I got an automated call from my school district saying that we'd be starting school two hours late.  Hooray!  There'd be time to see the garden in the light today.  But when snow is falling, I get very excited as it only happens a few times a year here.
 
 
 
 
Why wait for light? 

You folks living in cold climates may laugh heartily at this little bit of snow being cause for schools starting late.  Growing up in Alaska, I only recall one day in my 12 years of school when school was cancelled due to the weather. It was bitterly cold and strong winds had blown a great deal of snow in sideways causing it to drift over people's homes.  It took us a day to dig out and then things returned to normal with huge drifts everywhere.  Anyway, here the threat of a dusting of snow causes people to rush to stores to buy bottled water, space heaters, shovels, etc.  I usually make sure that there's peppermint schnapps on hand to mix with hot cocoa.
 I love the way snow decorates our gardens.

The fish are not sure how they feel about snow.

View of my neighbors' garden from mine.  It's for sale along with a beautiful Victorian jewel box of a house if you're interested in moving!



Cotoneaster lacteus  is becoming a favorite plant even though it hasn't found a permanent place in my garden yet.  Who could resist this burst of winter color?


Rhododendron sinogrande seems to be doing o.k. after the big freeze a few weeks ago.

As it was getting light out, another call came saying that school was cancelled.  This was our last day before Christmas break  so we got to add another day to our vacation!  Of course we'll have to make up the lost day but a snow day is very exciting because there's suddenly a free day to where there previously was none. 

Who couldn't use some extra time to get some holiday projects done?
 
Schefflera taiwaniana's new growth at the very top was burned by the freeze but so far the rest of the plant looks o.k.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus from Cistus this summer is looking adorable in its winter coat.

I may need another one or two of these cuties!

Trachycarpus fortunei is starting to look like it may get taller eventually. 

The hummingbirds are glad for the mahonia blooming now when there are fewer nectar sources.


My school is at a higher elevation than the street where I live (pictured)  and there were reports of more than three inches on the roads in higher elevations.  


Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'  laughs at snow!  I'm seeing a lot more of these in my future!

Grevillea victoriae ‘Murray Queen’ wearing a crown of snowy jewels.

Happy snow day to you all!
 

25 comments:

  1. You seem to have more snow than we here in Finland. It's been raining here today and we don't have any snow.

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    1. I'm sure that it doesn't often happen that we have more snow than you do. Fun!

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  2. I enjoyed your snow day since they are even rarer in south Texas than Tacoma. Pretty images highlight the beauty of a little dusting of snow. Poor fishes, they need to hunker down.

    When we lived in Wyoming the wind blew high drifts against the house and we had to go out a window to dig out the doors. Same as Alaska, once you dig out you help your neighbors and go about your day. Then there were our years in D.C. where complete panic sets in at the slightest dusting even though they get plenty of snow every year.

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    1. Isn't it interesting how people in various regions of the country react so differently to snow? I love it here because it seldom stays around for more than a day or two.

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  3. Love the delight over the snow that you communicate in this post. I'm sure you know very well how I feel about it. It did look pretty on your plants. My A. ovatifolia shrugged it off easily too. Forget the hummingbirds, I'm glad to see the Mahonia blooms!

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    1. I love it because it doesn't usually last very long here and because usually we get a day off or a late start when it snows.

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  4. I wish we had pretty dusting of snow…so much nicer than that killing frost, I'm still not sure how much damage it's caused . here's to a happy new year and probably plenty of new plants required !

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    1. Yes the snow was much nicer than that awful freezing stuff! It's sad that so much probably died this year but my garden was getting pretty crowded so this'll be a good year to do some more editing.

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  5. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow; beats the deep freeze! I'm sharing your love for Catoneaster lacteus -- a four season performer. The birds are finally cleaning up its berries here. My two specimens are about 10 to 12 feet high. Most of the leaves are gone now and the berries have darkened considerably, they are striking against gray or blue skies. I hope to post soon about this plant

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    1. I'll look for your post! This was a new plant to me this year and I'm finding it to be quite charming!

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  6. It does look pretty Peter, and will have to try peppermint schnapps with hot cocoa!

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    1. Thanks guys. It's such a nice warm drink. You might also like to try white hot chocolate. White chocolate chips or grated white chocolate melted in half and half (half cream and half milk) The peppermint adds a delightful flavor.

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  7. Peppermint schnapps is important for winter survival, and I also recommend pear brandy. That picture makes me think I need some cotoneaster ... wonder if it takes shade.

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    1. Cotoneaster can take part shade but don't think that it likes full shade much. MMM pear brandy sounds delightful. It's funny, we're really not big drinkers but warm drinks during the winter are pretty great. Just tried Fireball cinnamon whiskey (tastes like red hot candy) and really enjoyed sipping a thimble full. Also looking forward to trying salted caramel vodka mixed with hot cider as I've heard rave reviews.

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  8. I gave up peppermint schnapps many years ago after a particularly rough post college football game morning. A nice shot of straight whiskey (sipped of course) is my warm-up drink of choice. Oh, and Irish coffee-love Irish coffee ! Your lovely snow photos almost make me wish we had a flurry or two, but we can't even seem to get rain here this winter. Watering in December is just wrong !

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    1. It's wrong that you don't get any snow after that awful freeze! Oh, I forgot about Irish coffee. I'm also a fan!

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  9. You've taken some beautiful photos of that white stuff!

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    1. Much rather have snow than another arctic blast! I'm ready for spring how about you? Hey, NWFGS is only a little more than a month away!

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  10. Your waggies are so cute with the snow on them, and I really like the tall Mahonia, and blooming even! Spectacular.

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    1. This is the first year that I've had the waggies and I was surprised at how sweet they looked with snow!

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  11. Waiting for our next "dusting" here.....Meanwhile, I sure enjoy YOURS!
    We ARE kind of "pansies", aren't we? Same things happen here with the slightest HINT of snow in the winter! Snow is now forecast as though it were some kind of calamity....

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    1. Snowmageddon! We've become quite silly in some areas about snow! I wonder how pansies got used as a name for wimpiness? They're actually pretty tough and reliable plants. Blue poppies, on the other hand...

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  12. Nice scenes, and just enough snow! Cotoneaster lacteus used to be so prized until their 2/11 uber-freeze...really something I now appreciate more.

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    1. Didn't realize that they'd had an uber-freeze. These do o.k. in your climate?

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  13. As pretty as these photos are, I am glad it was not falling on my garden, though I know it is only a matter of time.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.