A Day of Flurries at My Farm
Hard not to love a picturesque snow-covered landscape even if it is light.
Yesterday, we got another dusting of beautiful, white snow that was just enough to stick to the tree branches and shrubs, stone posts, walls, and steps, and the tops of many of the burlap-encased boxwood and ornamental urns. I always love to tour the property when it snows. If it's heavy, I plow the four miles of carriage road. If it is light, I'm out there taking pictures. This storm brought several hours of flurries, and by afternoon peeks of a blue sky.
Enjoy these photos.
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- By late morning, many tree branches were already covered with a dusting of snow. The forecast called for “possible morning showers” but here at the farm, flurries fell most of the day.
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- I am always so proud of the trees I’ve planted over the years. This area is where I planted more than 900 evergreen trees. I call it the Christmas Tree garden. They were all just inches tall when planted in 2009 – and look at them now.
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- This is my allée of lilacs, which during early spring smells so sweet and fragrant covered with gorgeous lilacs in shades of white, pink, and purple.
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- Here in the Northeast, we had very little rain last year. It’s nice to see the streams flowing again.
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- The snow was just enough to outline the hole in this tree. I wonder if there are any creatures keeping warm inside.
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- Do you recognize these trees? In late summer and fall, these trees are filled with apples. These are some of the fruit trees that are original to the farm. I kept them and they’ve continued to be quite prolific, producing excellent apples for cider.
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- During the winter months, my crew does what I call “cleaning the woods” – picking up branches and other detritus from the woodland. Here’s resident tree expert, Pasang Sherpa, delivering some debris to a pile, which will be chipped later.
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- The large linden trees are part of an allée I planted several years ago. The linden tree, Tilia, is also referred to as basswood or lime, though it is not related at all to the lime fruit. They are straight stemmed trees with smooth bark. Many of you comment on the fencing. It is 100-year old white spruce fencing from Canada. I love how the snow collects on the fence rails.
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- Do you know what this is? It’s a hedge of European boxwood safely covered in a layer of burlap. On the left is a cold frame. I am glad we got all the burlap done before the snow. Many ask why I cover everything during winter. The truth is, heavy wet snow could actually splay the branches and injure the shrubs. I cover them to protect them from the elements and to help insulate them.
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- These are also covered boxwood in the center of my formal rose garden. Larger shrubs and a hedge line the footpath in the center of the bed.
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- Nearby is this section of my berry patch where in summer I grow thousands of delicious and sweet red raspberries.
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- This is my winterized dahlia bed. In late fall, I have them all cut down, mulched and then covered with a layer of hay and tarps. The lines in the center are the heavy chains that keep the tarps in place.
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- Here is a view looking through my fruit orchard not far from my pool. The snow was just enough to fill in the square tree pits.
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- The pool is now covered for winter, but look closely at the staddle stones at the far end – so perfect in that location.
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- Staddle stones were originally used as supporting bases for granaries, hayricks, game larders, etc. The staddle stones lifted the granaries above the ground to protect the stored grain from vermin and water seepage.
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- Here’s the old corn crib, which is original to the property. Its unique “keystone” shape, flaring from bottom to top and more pronounced from the front and back sides, was designed to shed water.
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- Fortunately it was not damaging snow – everything is intact. Today’s weather is expected to be a mix of clouds and sun, but bitterly cold – highs only in the 20s. This is an old apple tree.
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- My geese don’t mind this weather, but I do provide shelters to keep them out of the wind and bales of hay to help keep them warm. Most days, they walk around or rest in the middle of their enclosure. Here they are strolling around the peafowl coop – together.
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- Here is one six of my rare weeping hornbeams. I prune these regularly to keep the beautiful shape.
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- Here is a view of my perennial flower garden – a different look from summer when it is filled with colorful flowers.
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- And by afternoon, the clouds parted just enough to reveal this blue sky. Even if you don’t love winter, I am sure you agree, the scenery is breathtaking.
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