The Day After a Winter Storm
Temperatures are expected to rise into the 20s and 30s this week - a very welcome change here in Bedford, New York after days of frigid below-zero weather.
Last week, we received several inches of white powder during Winter Storm Grayson. Winds were high and visibility was low, but thankfully the farm didn’t suffer any major damage. The day after was definitely the calm after the storm. Although it was still very cold and windy, it was a beautiful, sunny day - a good one for the big clean-up.
Enjoy these photos.
-
- Here are a few birds in the espaliered dwarf apple orchard behind my carport. The bird feeders above are busy all day long with many hungry customers this time of year.
-
- Once again, the farm is covered with a new layer of glistening snow – everything looks so pretty. The forecast calls for another dusting of white powder this afternoon.
-
- Here’s the old corn crib, which is original to the property. I just love this angle – the corn crib and the beautiful antique fencing that surrounds my paddocks.
-
- This photo was taken in the early morning. My Winter House is on the right, behind all the burlap covered boxwood.
-
- This is the entrance into the boxwood enclosed garden behind my Summer House. This American boxwood is protected with plastic netting, keeping branches from splaying under the fallen snow. The smaller English boxwood is covered in burlap.
-
- These 50-year old apple trees were already here when I moved to the farm. They are located behind my herbaceous peony bed. It’s almost hard to believe these trees were laden with apples just a few months ago.
-
- The fencing casts wonderful shadows. This is one side of my peony bed – my stable is in the distance.
-
- My Friesians always enjoy their time outdoors, but it is bitter cold, so their outing is not long – just a couple hours to let them stretch their legs.
-
- Here is my stable manager, Sarah, leading them back into their warm stalls – temperatures on this day were only in the single digits – too cold for my winter loving equines.
-
- These stable doors are usually open during the day, but not on this one – in fact they have been kept closed all week because of the frigid temperatures.
-
- Snow collected on every surface possible, including this windowsill outside our stable office.
-
- As many of you know, I have planted a few different allees at the farm. This is the original allee of linden trees. An allee is a walk or passage, especially one between two rows of evenly planted trees.
-
- My vegetable garden is all white with snow. I can’t wait until growing season begins again.
-
- Here’s a gurgling stream barely peaking through the blanket of white. The woodland streams are full – they look so dark against the snow.
-
- Weeping willows color the edge of this hayfield with a touch of golden bronze.
-
- In my pinetum, the snow looks so beautiful on the branches, but when it is heavy and wet, it also weighs them down.
-
- This is the Pin Oak Allee. These trees look so majestic from the carriage road below – I am so happy they thrive here at the farm. They’re some of my favorite trees.
-
- Adjacent to the Pin Oak Allee is the Equipment Barn. It is topped with three giant finials I purchased some time ago. They look so perfect on the roof.
-
- Hanging from the roof are several long icicles. Icicles form on days when the outdoor air temperature is subfreezing and sunshine warms and melts some snow or ice. Then, as it drips off the roof, a water droplet freezes when it loses its heat to the cold air.
-
- The drifting snow created nicely manicured “pits” around the quince trees between my blueberry patch and the flower cutting garden.
-
- This is actually my cold frame buried under snow outside my main greenhouse.
-
- Nearby, my newly planted boxwood along the winding pergola is well-protected under burlap. The snow almost covers the entire row.
-
- Here is a passage between two rows of antique paddock fencing – such a nice view down the length of the paddocks with the stand of white pines in the distance.
-
- This is my favorite view of the fields looking at the old apples and the stable beyond. Warmer weather is on its way. We’re expected to hit 28-degrees Fahrenheit today here at my farm. Stay warm everyone, and let me know what you are doing during these early winter weeks. I love reading your comments!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
