Monday, January 6, 2014

Plants and Ice


For several days the garden was tucked under a soft fluffy blanket of snow.  It was beautiful and great for the plants.   Then the temperature went up like an express elevator, the kind that leaves your stomach in the basement!  Just the change in temperature melts snow, but when it rains too the snow goes away fast and what remains turns to ice.


Although it has just begun to freeze up, my hens and chicks are locked in a puddle of ice.




The snow changed to clear puddles in some places.  It left funny little knobs in others. Some places have granules and some are  edges are sharp as a razor.  



It is very weird the way water behaves when it changes from one state to another.  Walking on the snow makes a crunching sound.  Tonight when it gets really cold the formerly snowflakes that are now ice crystals will harden into a firm crust. Tomorrow will likely be a frigid below zero day. If you wanted to walk in the garden you would be able to walk on the surface without making a dent.

We are actually very lucky here.  We are used to bad roads and cold weather.  Although we grumble about the cold we know we are in upstate New York and we have to expect it.  It's the fast ups and downs that bother me.  I hope the garden is more adaptable.

6 comments:

Commonweeder said...

I'm not grumbling about the weather either, but I'm not moving from the fireside today. My husband chiseled open the car door so I could leave the hill, but it is zero degree with wind swirly the snow all around. I'm even worried about the succulents in my unheated Great Room.

Cynthia Moody said...

Beautiful pix! We're grumbling down here in the south, too. It was 12 when I came to work--noon now and is 28. We don't like this south of the mason-dixon line! C

Jan said...

I do enjoy your short, but sweet, posts ;) Simple but with interesting commentary. I walked on my stream today, and noticed the cool frozen ice around the waterfalls, but did not put it into words. You've done it for me! The ice formations are indeed, amazing! They are so intricate...I can't find words for them. I took photos...perhaps I'll come up with something, but your descriptions are great! Thanks :)

Dan said...

nice pictures ;)

Beth at PlantPostings said...

I'm always fascinated by the ice formation this time of year. But I agree, the quick shifts in temperature are tough on people, animals, and plants. So you don't protect the Hens and Chicks at all? That's amazing! I only have them growing in pots that I put on the screen porch over the winter. I hope they'll survive this frigid winter--much colder than normal for us here in southern Wisconsin (although I grew up in northern Wisconsin, so I've experienced it before ... but I don't like it). Stay warm!

sourabh said...

The ice formations are indeed, amazing! They are so intricate...I can't find words for them. I took photos...perhaps I'll come up with something, but your descriptions are great! Thanks :)