Finally Snow Cover Almost

This last month of 2017 has featured nothing but unusual weather.  The flat water sections of the nearby Unadilla River have frozen solid three different times.  One of those bitter cold nights resulted in clear ice perfect for skating if it had been thicker.  We have been looking for some snow cover to insulate the plants.  Several consecutive forecasts consistently predicted a three inch snowfall for us.  The evening before the possible snow fall featured high closely spaced parallel ridges in the clouds.  It could have been that corduroy clouds were a sign of impending snowfall but nothing happened.  Our plants remained exposed to the bitter cold.

There have been several nights when a possible accumulation of one inch of snow have been forecast.  We cannot be certain that what little white stuff accumulated overnight was snow rather than heavy frost.  With the subzero temperatures spanning several days, the blanket thickened.  These arbutus plants had a generous cover of fallen pine needles and now some snow nearly completes the blanket.  Perhaps the next dusting will finally hide these evergreen plants.  Rabbit tracks were evident close by  but with the protective cage  these leaves remain uneaten.

This first plowing of the lane was not really necessary.  Both the state and county road crews have been clearing and salting the roads but accumulations of snow are so thin that the plows have little impact.  I was faced with pulling two huge empty trash cans up the hill.  Two trips with the lawn tractor took care of the cans and it made no sense not to plow at the same time.  Besides, the plow on my lawn tractor is overwhelmed by three inches of snow.  I plowed wide since the next event will pile the new snow inside of the ridges made this time.  Plowing now also pushed aside some of the stones that came to the surface as rain water washed away the fines.  Having those stones gone before the snow blower is used is a real benefit.  The tools needed for shear pin replacement and new pins are in the tractor compartment but old bare hands in dry cold air bleed easily if bumped.  It is much better to avoid breaking the shear pins.  We are ready for another new year and we try to take some advantage of and enjoy each new day

Cold Clear Blue Sky

To date, January has been characterized by dismal overcast days and bitter cold.  Perennial plants were fully exposed to both the winds and the cold.  Frequent light dustings of snow failed to cover even the tips of the grass but road salt was needed in abundance.  Anyone that had to drive soon coated their car with dirty grayish white salt streaks.  A car wash was not an option because of the cold air.  Tightly frozen doors on a clean car guarantee that it will stay clean since there is no way to get inside.

Yesterday brought us a snowfall of substance.  Schools were closed and we had no interest in venturing out.  Freezing rain fell at both the beginning and the end of the storm.  The moisture content of the snow was sufficient to meet the seven inch forecast but the wet heavy snow compacted itself as it fell so the accumulated snowfall fell short of predictions.  Now at least, perennial plant crowns were under cover.

We do not know if the overnight low temperature fell to three below as forecast since the sun was well up when we finally ventured out.  We do know that the thermometer barely registered double digits early this afternoon.  Still, stones absorbed heat from bright sunlight sufficient to melt some snow.  Refrozen beads of ice and wet water dribble trails lie in contact with each other on the warmed surface of the stones.

My plan was to wait for the snowfall to stop before attacking it.  The snow blower could have handled the thickness of the accumulation but the wet snow rendered it useless.  Since I was uncharacteristically late in starting, a neighbor plowed the driveway.  The finishing work fell to me and the little yellow plow in the background made the snow pile near the truck.  It will push great mounds forward but cannot discharge heavy wet snow to the side.
 

This wet snow would freeze solid overnight and might then remain at the roadway's edge for weeks.  I had to push it straight back to clear space for subsequent plowing.  Darkness fell before both sides of the lane could be cleared so we will have to make this much open space work.

Time under the bright sun has dissipated the accumulated seasonal gloom and aching muscles from physical exertion somehow feel right.  Our plants are finally under protective snow cover and we have spent time in the sunlight.  Another seed catalog arrived in today's mail.  We are finally heading in a comforting direction.