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The lilac looks lovely with the new snow and lights entwined in it. Photo by Fran Durner. View a timelapse video of a garden through the season
I knew it was coming eventually, but when it began to snow last evening, I wasn't psychologically ready for it. "It's not supposed to snow!" said one of my coworkers, as we stared out the windows of the office. I think he was referring to the last forecast he saw because, obviously, it is supposed to have snowed by now.
Taking a walk with a friend on Saturday, I said over an over that I didn't care if it never snowed again and then was hit by panic when I thought of of what it would mean to my plants if they didn have a good insulating snow cover by the time below-zero temps hit.
Calling our winter climate an Arctic desert seems to surprise some people but think about it: Even though we are on the ocean, we don't have the benefit of humidity from it in the winter. Even the Inlet water freezes and the air is bone dry.
Snow acts as a mulch on garden beds. This is also a good time to see the "bones" of your garden. Photo by Fran DurnerThink of how fast the soil loses it moisture when left uncovered and how high the potential for dessication in the garden. So mulches can be really important, not just as a warming blanket but to keep moisture from escaping.
Snow is a mulch too and we gardeners should be thankful for it.
It's going to take a while to get used to that thought, so in the meanwhile I'll be chanting the mantra: Snow is good, embrace the winter. Snow is good, embrace the winter...
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