longing for another kind of shovel
IWAS MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS HERE WHEN THIS SHOWED UP. And it continues to show up. After several “cried-wolf” storms this year (all of which settled on New York City south to the mid-Atlantic, not us) finally here comes The Whopper (definitely not flame-broiled, and no mayo, ketchup, onion, lettuce, tomato or pickle included that I can see). Truth be told, I wasn’t minding my own business, exactly, but actually our business: revamping A Way to Garden for its third “facelift” (cheaper and easier than getting one myself) in time for a March release. If you wonder why I am quiet this week, that’s why: I’m hectic here, rebuilding. And it’s also quiet because the snow now muffles me in a thick duvet of white.
This time last year, the snow drops and snow crocus (croci? crocuses?) had been out for a couple of weeks, and the February Gold daffodils had buds. This year, um, I guess they are out there somewhere. I think I saw a few daffodil leaves poking out of the snow.
Looks like I lost my favorite Japanese maple, a 10-year-old red lace leaf that I’d raised from a seedling. The trunk is split. There’s damage to other bushes and trees as well, but nothing that won’t recover, or be missed if it doesn’t. The red lace leaf, I’ll miss.
At least here in Cincinnati we had snow drops, aconite and tommy crocus waiting on us when our big snow finally started to melt last week. Remarkable plants that are perfectly timed to help us with that final push to spring. This year one never knows whats next though.
I decided to use my spade to break up the ice beneath the snow.
My back hurts in that low gardening spot. It’s wonderful.
Getting snow (and lots of it) here in Northern NJ. I have added “order more seeds” to my to-do list for today (in-between the shoveling). Thank you, Margaret for helping us endure!
My, oh my… and we were excited about our 12 inches in Dallas. It’s been a strange winter for us, I think we are finally, hopefully thawing out?
Oh, dear, Margaret! That looks like a whole lot of snow, just when you could reasonably have hoped to be past the danger. Down here in the mid-Atlantic where, as all the world knows now, we don’t know how to do snow, the remains of our blizzards (real blizzards, with wind too) are melting slowly, but today on a little patch where the sun hits I saw — a snowdrop! The French call them “perce neiges” but this year they couldn’t possibly pierce the neige, so we are dancing happy dances of welcome that at least in a few places they are able to get through and bring their charming message.
That’s disheartening! It is always so dissappointing when the snow goes away and then comes back! Our’s is here still, but spring is just around the corner!
I am enjoying your blog!
Greetings from the snowbelt 30 miles east of Cleveland. Here in Geauga County we have had nearly 16 feet of snow fall on us since November! Backing out of the garage has become a real challenge–I leave rear license plate impressions in the snow bank daily. Sure makes for some wonderful cross-country skiing at the Holden Arboretum though. I’m just hoping there’s a way to SEE my garden sometime before June!
Welcome, Mary. Yes, it’s here. What a mess today (that photo was just the first third of the dump we got). I got new snow tires, too, but until now not much use this winter as you say. And did you say “cabin fever”? Oh boy, yes.
Welcome, Allison. 16 FEET? Sounds like lake effects snow (which I hear about on the radio sometimes because I live in New York State, where some counties far from me experience it). Yikes. I will stop complaining now. Maybe. :) Really, though, this was a no-winter winter in my estimation for the most part. Last year was much worse; nonstop ice. I bet Holden is beautiful; lucky you.
See you both soon again I hope.
So that is where it went. We have had (cross my fingers) barely snow up here this year (Quebec)! Getting a bit today but I can still get out of my yard (that is how I gauge it) but mind you I did get new snow tires this year and yes the cabin fever has kicked in….
We’re getting another look at the underside of some snowflakes tomorrow and Friday–we’re in the 12+” range on the weather map. I keep telling myself it is very good for the plants underneath, but I will be so happy to see the plants instead!!
What a lovely garden blog!
/Lina in Stockholm Sweden
(-15c and 1 meter snow!)
Welcome, Lina, all the way from Stockholm. Not cold here, really (30s F) but wowo, what a lot of impossible-to-shovel, heavy snow. Much more fell overnight, and still coming. I appreciate your nice words and am so glad you have found us….just in time for the coming of spring! See you soon again, yes?
Here in the Phiadelphia area we had our whopper handed to us a week or so ago. Actually, we had two in a row, serving up way more snow than we have had in many years. The big melt down has begun and the anxiety is beginning to build. Where to begin in the garden when the blanket is lifted? Looking forward to seeing the new look. A Way to Garden is my homepage… pleasant way to start the day.
Chin up, dear! The good thing about these late winter blizzards is they melt off more quickly and then before you know it, it’s spring!