It's snowing !

[Dazed_Lily]

It started about 8:30 this morning. Nice fluffy flakes. The streets are fine--just wet. But the front and back yards have about 2 inches of snow. I went out and tried to throw snowballs at my dog. Since she's a Norwegian Elkhound, this is her kinda weather ! I also fed the ducks. It was fun !

[Ann B.]

Cool!

Aren't ya just feeling like a kid, again! Sure sounds like FUN to me!!!!

You may not have gotten a White Christmas, but it sounds like at least your are getting a White New Year's Eve!

Is your dog catching any of the snowballs? I remember when it snowed here, and the dog that I had at the time would run, then slide across the yard and run and slide again. It was hilarious to watch!

[Dazed_Lily]

Heh, heh ! Norway(her name) doesn't catch anything or retrieve anything. If you throw her a dog biscuit , she will wince and let it bounce off her nose. She is such a girly girl.
Went to WM and bought a bird feeder. We strung it up on the deck railing and already have had the Cardinals come to it. I can't tell you how pretty red cardinals are in the snow ! We also have red finches, sparrows and a liitle bird that is black on top and white on the bottom. I used to think they were chickadees but have no idea now what they are.
The sun is trying to come out. I suspect the snow will be gone tomorrow but it's wonderful while it lasts.

[Ann B.]

Cathy!

It was so much fun hearing about your snow. I do adore cardinals and every year, I used to leave gigantic ripened okra pods for them. That way, I could see them from my window.

I haven't had a vegetable garden since I started teaching, but I definitely should do that again soon. I miss having one, and I certainly miss seeing the cardinals.

Our cold front came through this morning. Temps were just about freezing, but the sun is bright and everything is warming up quickly. We have one more cold night, then it should be back to normal temps here.

In the meantime, cool and sunny with my last day off is nice.

[vicki]

Cathy,
I too love to go out and play in the snow. Usually we are
buttcheek deep by now, but there isn't a snowflake in sight!
We might get a mix of snow and rain on sat. with high's in the upper 30's. But then warming back up to the mid 40's
We broke the record in Muskegon on New Years day with a high of 45!
Anxiously awaiting spring!

[txbeyer]

Would you post a picture of snow falling - we don't know what that looks like in Austin:confused:

[Ann B.]

Same here! It is 75 degrees today, but I know that won't last long.

Things are starting to spring back to life only to be bitten by the next hard frost/freeze.

Is it my imagination or is this a mild winter?

[Ann B.]

We had several days of morning frost, meaning below 40 degrees F. Now, the temps are going up to the 50's in the am.

Tis the life of living on the borderline....

It was nice to turn off the heaters and gh lights for a few days, but it looks like cold will return in a few days with the lows dipping below 30 degrees.

Oh, well...

Two more months of these ups and downs, before I start holding my breath when I look at the forecast and hoping for NO MORE frosts/freezes!

[vicki]

I am going to go and collect more pine needle mulch for the
'new' area I'm working on. We had a dusting of snow a couple days ago, but it rained some last night. It's a nice 43 out right now. Weird!

[Ann B.]

I sure hope that means we are going to have a mild, mild winter.

Tomorrow, I have to check the kerosene supply because we are suppose to have below 30 temps.

Don't laugh 'cause I know we live in different worlds, and I appreciate the fact that those just north of me have much more beautiful gardens 'cause they don't deal with the heat and humidity.

Still, I won't complain. This is the world that I know!

[sue salley]

They are predicting a milder than usual winter for the Eastern part of the country which has been true so far. We had a litle snow the other day but really not much in the way of cold weather.
Here it is the middle of Jan. I should have on my long johns but instead am sitting here with the windows open. I have bulbs showing growth. The only hting I worry about is that I also noticed some new growth on some of the daylillies. I hope it doesn't hurt them when it gets cold again. Which it is supposed to do next week after a spring like weekend. There's nothing I can do about it so I'll just enjoy the lower heating bill. Hey, more money to buy plants with!
I am wondering if Cathy has been affected by the ice storm in the midsection of the country. They seem to be getting all the bad weather this year.

[Ann B.]

Cathy is visiting her Mom now, I think.

It is in the 70's here today and bright, sunny, absolutely GORGEOUS and supposed to be that way for the next couple of days.

We are expecting a cool down in the middle of the week, so hubby bought a couple more gallons of kerosene and refilled another propane tank just in case.

Meanwhile, my windows are open and I'm enjoying this gorgeous, spring like day!

[txbeyer]

In Austin this afternoon, it is 40 degrees, raining cats and dogs with over 3" and more expected, and forecast for freezing something or another after midnight (sleet, freezing rain, or maybe snow) with subfreezing evenings into the mid twenties for three straight days. :( Spring is not quite around the corner

My outdoor plants will get their severest test for hardiness yet. This will probably get to Mobile eventually. :eek:

[Ann B.]

Bob, I can usually predict Mobile's weather for tomorrow by looking at Houston's weather today. That works in the spring, summer and fall. If it is raining today in Houston, it will usually rain tomorrow.

For some reason, it doesn't always work that way with the cold fronts. Cold fronts come from the north and work their way to the south which I suppose is different from the weather conditions working from west to east.

Anyway, our forecast are currently not calling for the extreme lows that are predicted in Austin right now. A couple of days ago, they were predicting hard freezes, but they have changed those predictions, so all we can do is wait and see...

[Ann B.]

Bob?

Snow? Have you gotten any of that beautiful white stuff?

I see that you are getting hit hard by this winter storm. It finally arrived here, but it's not as cold here as you are.

[txbeyer]

Winter has hit us with a vengence. Austin is virtually shut down and we haven't been out of the house for two days. Everything is iced over and then it snowed on top of that - not much but enough to stick. Temps have been below freezing for the past 48 hours and tonight, they are predicting our worst night yet, but in the form of snow, not sleet. We could wake up to a really white landscape tomorrow morning. I have had certain plants covered for two days now and all other plant life is stiff with ice. This is what our back deck looked like at 11 AM today. We expect a temps to rise on Thursday giving us some relief, but still remain pretty chilly.

[Ann B.]

WoW!

It is supposed to get down to 33-34 tomorrow morning. The high was something like 46 and very wet and rainy, yuk!

Please be sure to take lots of pictures of the snow! I know how rare it is to get snow in your neck of the woods.

Just don't send any my way right now. I adore seeing it, touching it, tasting it, but don't need it right now.

Enjoy it while you can!

[Ann B.]

That is very pretty, isn't it?

Fortunately, it didn't get that cold here. There wasn't even a frost. Forecast is around 40 tomorrow morning, but the heater and lights remain on for another day. It is dreary, cloudy and very damp outside.

I think the damp makes it feel colder. I'm glad it didn't get as cold here, but they are predicting a couple more arctic blasts next week, so January cold is not over yet by any means.

Icicles are cool, aren't they? Thanks for the pics and please let us know what makes those temps and what doesn't!

[txbeyer]

Here's one better - a link to a Yahoo Photo Album I created showing 15 pictures of our conditions and the appearance of the frozen winter garden. Got up to 34 today so the big thaw has begun:rolleyes:

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/robertbeyer/album/576460762385332780[/URL]

[Dazed_Lily]

60 degree difference for me from yesterday ! Florida to Kansas !
This morning on the drive to work it was 14 degrees. I think it warmed to upper 20's. Of course, I am wondering what my plants are thinking. I'm worried about the potted lily bulbs in the garage. The garage doesn't freeze but someone who lives in this house is inclined to leave the door open despite telling me otherwise. Eek ! I do think about aphids and thrips and hope they are frozen, so the daylilies will show nice this summer.

[Ann B.]

I have a student from Germany that arrived the night before the first day of class. He is in my Algebra II class, and is usually the first one to arrive.

This morning, he walked into my room with his usual big smile and immediately asked, "Is it true that it only snows here every 10 years and when it does, there is no school?"

It was fun to explain to him about the lack of salt trucks, and the other students wandered in and joined the discussion. Most have never been up north and have never seen lots of snow.

I am enjoying this particular class. We have about 10 minutes to just talk before class starts and they are mostly seniors, a few juniors who are getting ready to explore the world for themselves.

Bob! Nice photos, but I have to tell you that I'm glad for you and glad that I don't see icicles and ice like that here right now. I'd rather not miss a day of school. After all, we have to make it up in the summer! ;)

[txbeyer]

Bob! Nice photos, but I have to tell you that I'm glad for you

I'm not at all glad about the ice and frigid weather - my poor outdoor plants! :eek: This was quite a shocking experience for me compared with Houston's normal winter. I will definitely find out the hard way who the survivors are - but not for quite a while most likely.

I tried to make the best of it by looking for and photographing the beauty in it - but would much prefer to live without that kind of excitement. That's why I live in the south (so I thought) :confused:

[Ann B.]

Feeling for you...

I truly understand!

Somehow, we skirted by on that one, but unfortunately, it looks like more are coming this way in the next week. It's too soon to tell how cold it will be.

I don't see sun in the forecast any time soon. :(

[Dazed_Lily]

8 inches of snow predicted; probably 5-6 inches right now. I've been out playing in it with the dog, fed the ducks, shoveled the driveway,played more with the dog, took some instamatic photos, headed out with the digital. It's fun out there; where are the kids ?! I guess they're the playstation generation. Stay tuned for photos !


http://www.ksn.com/news/local/5276746.html

[Dazed_Lily]

I'm trying to take 4 season photos of the same perspective of the pond. I have summer, spring and fall and now winter.

[Ann B.]

Slip and slide some for me, and I want to see LOTS of photos!

How about a snowman? How about angel wings in the snow?

Enjoy!!!! It sure sounds like a lot of FUN! :D ;) :cool:

[Dazed_Lily]

I forgot to size in mt above post so here is the winter pond scene:

[Dazed_Lily]

Well, we have to have winter pines as well ! (can you find the tree house):

[Dazed_Lily]

As I was taking photos, I heard what sounded like gun shots and the next thing I knew the Canada geese were in flight--I heard more than I saw. Since we are in the middle of a snow storm, the lighting isn't great but I had to snap these pix:

[Dazed_Lily]

more:

[Ann B.]

Oh, my GOSH! Oh, MY GOSH! OH, MY GOSH!!!!!

That is absolutely breath taking! Love the geese photos!

[Ann B.]

So, does this mean that the pond is frozen over?

[Dazed_Lily]

Well, the ducks are walking across it ,so for them it is. Farther down the pond there is a small open area and all the ducks and passers-by(saw a beautiful great blue heron) congregate there.

The snow is so nice and fluffy and it really doesn't feel cold, so it's been fun being out there. :)

[Ann B.]

I bet!

In my mind, I am there enjoying it with you! What a treat! You have to realize that I have seen very little snow. When I traveled to Mass. and saw it, I was mostly in the city and it was ugly and dirty.

Yours is beautiful!

[txbeyer]

Beautiful pictures :cool: Wish we had some of that beautiful snow instead of ice and sleet in Austin. Those look like sandhill cranes flying overhead.

[Ann B.]

Bob,

Have you seen the last of that nasty cold front? I've been reading about how hard the west coast was hit. Sounds awful...

[txbeyer]

We are expecting one last round of potentially nasty weather before things are predicted to really improve (Sunshine predicted for next Tuesday and we have already had 10 days without sunshine and colder than average temps.) Possible ice early next week depending on timing of the next front and lows around 30 again. Everything is pretty soggy, misty light rain falling all day today with low visability - gloomy, depressing. :mad: That combined with temps in the upper 30's makes it feel bonechilling. :eek: Can hardly wait for the sun to shine again - someday:rolleyes: I want to get out there and dig again - winter is a good time for transplanting.

[Dazed_Lily]

Bob, I know the feeling about wanting to get back out there. I still have daff bulbs which I'm seriously thinking about chilling(have to search and see if they need that) because it may be awhile before I can dig. Boy oh boy, if only I had just worked a little harder on what was to become the last planting day back a couple of months ago, I would have had them planted. :rolleyes:

Just wanted to add one more benefit of a nice snow that I had forgotten about. It is 'light' outside ! I could see 2 people walking on the other side of the pond and realized that I could see across the pond at 8:30 PM ! Yes, snow gives that wonderful candlelight glow at night. I almost want to go for a walk ! :)

[Ann B.]

;)

The price of gas just went below $2/gallon, and my neighbor's tulip tree is in full bloom!

Normally, the tulip trees don't start blooming until mid February or so, and I didn't think we would see lower prices on gas any time soon...

[Ann B.]

We're expecting rain today, but I thought I would take some pics for you anyway.

Tulip tree...

[Ann B.]

Up close, and unfortunately with a flash?!??!

[Ann B.]

On one of the lower limbs of the tulip tree...

[Ann B.]

While I was taking pictures, I decided to take my handy shears with me, along with a ziploc bag.

These are Oleander seeds...

[Ann B.]

More normal for this time of the year...

[Ann B.]

Yuk!

Forecast for Monday morning is 30 degrees F. Actually, there was a heavy frost this morning, but 30 degrees does a lot more damage than heavy frost. That is a FREEZE!

Unfortunately, I have a few blooms on pear trees that will drop. I have new sprouting leaves on my confederate roses that will melt. I have a few crinum that are almost 2 feet tall that will melt down again (semi-protected area).

That's the problem with my zone. New growth, freeze and melt down, new growth, freeze and melt down...

LAS! I don't mind. It's the same ole, same ole stuff, only this winter has had more warmth than melt down.

Here's my first daffodil of the season.

[sue salley]

Ann, Thanks for that picture. Dasffodils are a favorite of mine (they are yellow ya know). To me they are a sign of spring. I have some that are up and forming buds. Way to early for them. I doubt they make it. But I have plenty more planted elsewhere. Crocus usually come up first but these daffs are in a spot that is warmer so they done sprung up. I'm sure they didn't realize it is too cold for them. I might try to protect them on the coldest nights. I do love them.

[Ann B.]

My old eating pear tree is in full bloom. We are expecting a hard freeze in a day or two.

Oh. well...

This winter has been DIFFERENT!

[txbeyer]

We have a frightning forecast for next weekend in Austin - a frigid arctic blast that they are predicting will drop us well into the 20's with teens in the outlying Hill Country areas for many nights in a row! EEEEEEK!. :eek:

[Dazed_Lily]

Bob- Time to get out the blankets(for the plants too) ;)
Ann- Sounds like you need a smudge pot.

[Ann B.]

Cathy? What is a smudge pot?

We had a rough morning. My alarm clock has gotten flaky. I woke up at 6:15 and decided I'd better look at the time. The alarm was set, the light was on, but it did not go off.

You have to realize that I normally get up at 5am. So, I run around the house waking everyone up, saying get up, get up. My alarm did not go off.

I looked out at the patio and "Oh, NO!" It was 42 degrees. I went out to the porch. The kerosene heater had gone out. I went out to the old gh. It was 42, but that is okay for in there.

The dew was frozen on the inside, east end of the plastic on the porch. The north side dew didn't appear to be frozen. I didn't have time to check the west side.

Then I saw it! My husband did not cover the faucets for the well water. Hoses were still attached.

I ran inside and yelled at my husband to get out of the shower and dry his hair. The breaker had broken the morning before while the heater on the porch was running and he was drying his hair.

It was 24 degrees outside.

I ran to my bedroom and unplugged the fluorescents. The GFCI is in my bedroom on the receptical that is used for the fluorescents. That GFCI works for both bathrooms and the porch.

I then ran back outside to start my car and let it warm enough to melt some of the ice.

Back inside to finish getting dressed for school, and my last words as I was running out the door was, "Be sure to turn off the breaker to the well pump in case we have busted PVC lines." I heard in response, "But what about the lights in the greenhouse." I said, "They're turned off. The propane heater will do fine for the rest of the day."

I arrive at school at 7:28. No time to go by the office and check my box. The students were so glad to see me. That's the bad thing about an outside classroom. They were actually happy to see that I made it.

I was exhausted by then, but the day went well.

Nothing was harmed in the porch, but everything outside including new growth on the fruit trees and the confederate rose is MELTED.

Thank goodness, the rest of my day went just fine. But I have to tell you that I am TIRED!

P.S. I haven't had the nerve to turn on the breaker to the well pump. It's going to have to wait...

[txbeyer]

24 degrees in Mobile, yikes! I see where a lot of rain is in your neck of the woods or heading there soon - that combination is what brought us to a frozen standstill in Austin. There almost seems to be a trough of colder temperatures in the northern Gulf region from LA to FL. consistently each winter. Ann, you just need to move further south and get out your scuba gear :D

They are still predicting the worst arctic blast of the winter season for us sometime after Sunday but I've yet to hear how low it is expected to go. Isn't living in the South fun :rolleyes:

[Ann B.]

My term for living in this part of the south is "Yo-Yo".

If it weren't for these occasional frost and freezes, we could be like south Florida, huh?

[Ann B.]

Okay! Okay!

I got up the nerve to turn on the breaker to the well pump.

First, I turned on the faucet on the outside of the pump house. No problem. No leaks. Water running.

Then I peaked inside the well house. No problem, no leaks, water still running. Turned off that faucet.

Then went to the faucet beside by bedroom and cringed. The water hose was still attached. The water was on. Turned on water at the other end of the hose in the porch and checked the hose all the way. No leaks. No cracked PVC.

Holy COW! 24 degrees and no busted pipes!!! Not any that I have found, yet, anyway. That's a good sign. If there are none above ground, it is doubtful to find any below ground.


What a relief!!!! Lights in the old gh (supplied by well power supply) are now on. Propane is off in the old gh.

We are expecting light frost tomorrow.

Now, all of you up north are laffing your heads off, but you have to realize we are not real swift at these hard freeze things. No frozen ground, can you imagine that?

Geez! I am laffing at myself and feeling really fortunate at the moment...

[Ann B.]

BTW, all those pretty, red camellia flowers are a nasty brown right now...

Bummer!

[Dazed_Lily]

http://physics.uwstout.edu/deptpages/physqz/smudge.htm
picture: http://www.missioninnmuseum.com/collect_citrus/cit00008.htm
I'm pretty sure the florida citrus growers use them.

[Ann B.]

Thanks, Cathy!

I have never heard of those.

I ventured out late this afernoon and was amazed to see new blooms on the old pear tree.

Go figure... This old tree has got to have a lot of 'fight' left in it!

[Ann B.]

I still find it hard to believe that the porch survived 24 degrees (often colder here), and frost inside the plastic with absolutely no harm to my tropical. I mean none. No leaf burn, no yellowing, nothing!

I lost track of my remote thermometers during Ivan. No telling where they disappeared to, but I need to invest in another set this year. At least, I would have been warned if the temps went close to freezing in the outermost corners.

6 more weeks (on the average) of frost here, and I am ready for the rest of that time to be mild temps and no more sudden hard freezes.

How do you those of you up north do it? I don't know how I would manage with constant cold. My sinuses are given me fits. And my goodness, I have never had to deal with frozen ground.

Still, your gardens are so pretty! How do you do it?

[txbeyer]

Weather is always such an interesting thing to talk about and so unpredictable. Now they are saying we will have several nights at just below freezing in Austin but not the severe arctic blast predicted earlier, just a period of below average temperatures. I can live with that. I was astonished when the weather forecaster said the record low for Austin on this date was 4 degrees in 1949, so that shows we have the potential for really severe cold weather in central Texas, but thank God, it so rarely happens. When I lived up north in TN and VA, I just grew plants that are tolerant of that climate zone and grew fewer tender plants because of limited hobby greenhouse space. Winter always seemed to last forever. Now I no longer do winters like that and will gladly trade the occasional cold blast of wintery weather for 4-6 months of continuous cold and freezing weather.
I enjoyed the winter hardy evergreens during the winter months when living up north, e.g. conifers, hollies. Every area of the country has it's uniqueness in the horticultural world. The amazing adaptability of plants to severe climate conditions never ceases to amaze me, whether it be severe and long periods of frozen ground or extremely dry desert conditions. We just need to learn to appreciate what is unique to our environments wherever we live.