More Stormy Weather at My Farm
Winter isn’t over yet, that’s for sure.
The third major nor'easter in two-weeks slammed the Northeast yesterday, bringing more snow and gusty winds up to 40 miles-per-hour in some areas. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for most of New England and a winter weather advisory for portions of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
We were fortunate at my Bedford farm - heavy, wet snow fell for much of the morning, and then tapered to light flurries by afternoon leaving only about four to five inches of snow on the already white covered ground. Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Although skies were quite gray, I always try to take photos early in the morning during these storms. Fortunately, guests for a meeting at my farm were still able to make it – roads were very passable.
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- Gusting winds caused this tall evergreen to sway, but luckily this storm did not bring any big branches or trees down at the farm.
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- Here is one of four Sargent crabapples flanking the carriage road between my Tenant House and blog studio. Malus sargentii, occasionally called Sargent’s apple, is a species of crabapple in the genus Malus. The plant is a shrub that grows to about six to eight feet tall.
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- These young trees in my Stewartia garden are nearly all covered with snow. Stewartia trees are multi-stemmed, deciduous trees with a rounded columnar form featuring bark that exfoliates in strips of gray, orange, and reddish brown once the trunk attains a diameter of about three-inches.
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- Just down the carriage road is this stand of quince trees. Quince trees, Cydonia oblonga, were popular during colonial times but eventually fell out of favor because they offered no immediate gratification – the fruits can’t be eaten right off the tree, but they are great for jams.
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- I love this angle looking through a section of my clematis pergola at my weeping hornbeam, one of six on the opposite side of the Party Lawn. Carpinus betulus ‘Pendula’ is a dense tree with a strong center, a shapely form and gracefully arching branches.
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- Here is my basket house nestled by my grove of bald cypress trees.
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- We are certainly getting some good use out of the burlap covers protecting my boxwood and ornamental urns. Under these burlap shrouds are two stately Kenneth Lynch garden containers.
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- A snow covered path underneath my winding clematis pergola – the snow is messy, but also quite beautiful.
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- Here is a closer look at the old apple and quince trees on the far side of my Party Lawn, with the corncrib on the right.
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- Visitors to my farm love this view of the winding path to my hay fields and woodlands.
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- Here’s Dawa sweeping off more snow from the allee of boxwood.
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- I love taking photos when snow covered paths are still untouched. This narrow path is between my paddocks leading up to my carport and my dwarf apple espalier.
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- Here is one of two weeping cherry trees down by my stable. Right now, it is covered with winter snow, but in spring, the weeping cherry, Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’, produces popcorn-like blooms in white or very light pink, giving it an appearance of a snow cover.
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- Here is a view looking through an old stand of apple trees, which are original to the farm. I am so glad they continue to thrive and produce such an abundance of fruit every year.
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- A view of my birdbath and the paddock beyond.
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- It’s hard to see these large azaleas underneath the snow. Caring for azaleas in winter is not difficult. My outdoor grounds crew brushes off any heavy amounts of snow that may splay its branches. Fortunately, this snow began to melt by afternoon.
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- Here is the sunken garden behind my Summer House – it too was blanketed in white, but my precious boxwood lining the stone footpath are well protected with burlap.
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- More snow accumulated on the boxwood surrounding my herbaceous peony bed.
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- Here is a bit of color to add to the white winter landscape – my blueberry purgola. I have many varieties of blueberries planted here. Blueberries are partially self-fertile, which means planting two or more varieties will yield more berries and extend the harvest season.
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- Behind my vegetable greenhouse are my grapevines. Most grapes require full sun, moderate amounts of water and a rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. They should also have good air flow and a gently sloping site with southern exposure.
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- Snow weighs down the lower branches of this tree in my pinetum. I love this area of the farm. Tucked away behind my Equipment Barn, the pinetum is filled with pine trees and other conifers.
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- Here is a pretty view of my Winter House from the side of my stable. Always a welcoming sight, especially on these cold winter days. Were you affected by this latest nor’easter? Let me know in the comments section below.
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