Winter finally shows up

Category: my Winter thoughts | Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:12 pm

It's been a very mild winter here this year. I am not really complaining, because the past several years, winters have been so cold and snowy. I have been enjoying the warmth and record highs and being able to be outdoors without layers and boots and all. However, it is dry, and starting to be of concern. We need moisture.
The weather people started to hint mid week that a storm would be headed our way. Well, the folks here in the central plains know how to prepare, and people were preparing. Groceries stocked up, gas tanks filled, de-icer applied to city streets, we even cleared out our rain gutters (maybe over-preparing?) So, it began with rain. Yeah! Wet, drenching moisture! Then turned to a wet, sloppy snow last night. I am always compelled to go out to see what has happened, so I began bundling up. As I was pulling on my boots, I heard a loud CRACK. As the garage door went up, we see a branch hanging in the yard over the neighbor's fence. His Crabapple has just suffered from the weight of the heavy snow.

broken branch ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

branch in our yard ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

Guess we'll have some cleaning up to do. Our big lovely Sycamore has lost several branches too, but none are very large. The trees and shrubs are really weighted down. It is pretty, but I did gently brush the snow away from my little Burning bushes, my precious Japanese Maple,the Dogwoods, Ninebark and Aronia. I know I have to be really careful when I do this so I don't damage them.
The snow continues to come down, I think we'll have about 10" when it stops.
We are having a good time watching all our birds at the feeders. They must put the word out, our backyard is a flurry of activity. wish I could take better photos, but the birds will not pose!
Finches, Cardinals, Jays, Doves, Juncos, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Cedar Waxwings are some of the hungry birds today.

heavy, wet snow in backyard ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

a blanket for the Spruce ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

feeders before we swept off the snow ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

snowy birdbath ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

So, this is the winter we're used to. We knew it was bound to catch up to us.

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gfreiherr wrote on Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:27 pm:

It looks so pretty when it first falls. Hope you don't have too much damage.

Cayuga Morning wrote on Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:42 pm:

Beautiful photos. We had a snow like that around Halloween. Caused a lot of damage. I hope you don't lose more branches. It has been an unusual winter this year, hasn't it?

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