My farm looks so eerie covered in a blanket of thick fog.
Do you get a lot of fog where you live? My property is in close proximity to a reservoir, where early patches of fog are quite common. Fog is essentially made up of condensed water droplets - a result of the air being cooled to the point where it can no longer hold all the water vapor it contains. It can be thin or thick - sometimes so thick it obscures the road and other objects ahead making it difficult for driving or even walking. Yesterday, I had a dense fog, which covered the area for most of the day.
It was a great opportunity to capture some photos of this atmospheric phenomenon, enjoy.
This is my long Boxwood Allée now covered in protective burlap for the winter. Yesterday, the atmosphere was filled with thick fog. At the end is my stable, but the thick fog makes it nearly impossible to see.
Here is one of my handsome Friesians standing in the pasture. Foggy, wet conditions can sometimes bother horses, but we only got light rain on this day, and plenty of fog that lasted several hours.
Do you know how fog forms? Fog can form in two ways: either by cooling the air to its dew point or by evaporation and mixing. This happens often when the earth radiates heat at night or in the early morning.
Fog happens when it is very humid. There has to be a lot of water vapor in the air for fog to form. This is one section of an allée of lindens planted between two paddocks leading down to my chicken yard.
Here are my five donkeys in another pasture. They don’t seem to mind the weather at all.
This is a southern view looking at my living maze. Hard to see, but my Winter House home is in the distance.
And this is the older Linden Allée just outside my stable. Don’t confuse fog and mist. Fog is denser than mist. This means fog contains more water molecules in the same amount of space. Fog cuts visibility down to six-tenths of a mile while mist can reduce visibility to about one to 1.2 miles.
The thicker the fog, the longer it takes to dissipate. This fog lasted several hours along with light rain showers. This view shows my golden weeping willows.
Here, dozens of geese gather in what I call my “Run In” paddock. Wild birds love to visit my farm. I also see wild turkeys, and raptors or birds of prey, such as hawks, falcons, and turkey vultures.
This photo shows the thick fog through the woodland. But, the foggiest place in the world is Grand Banks, off the island of Newfoundland, Canada. The cold Labrador current from the north and the warm Gulf Stream current from the east create just the right conditions for thick fog to form almost every day of the year.
This fog is in my back hayfield where I grow lots of hay for my horses. Edging the field on one side is a stand of red maples.
At the far end of the back hayfield is my giant sycamore tree, the symbol of my farm. This tree is among the largest of the trees on the property.
Even with the dense fog, my outdoor grounds crew keeps busy with all the late fall chores. Our biggest task right now is to cover all the boxwood shrubs and hedges with burlap.
This is a view of my middle field, another area that is dedicated to growing lots of nutritious hay for my horses. At the left edge is a stand of Japanese zelkova trees, closely related to the elm.
These are also linden trees – half of my long allée that starts at the carriage road to my Winter House and extends north between the fenced pastures all the way to my chicken coops.
This bare tree stands behind my goose pen. Ever wonder why it is called “fog?” One definition of fog from the 14th century refers to tall grasses. Many grasses use fog as part of their name such as Yorkshire fog grass. Fog was also the Danish word for mist or spray in the 16th century. It is thought that the two definitions may have merged when mist was noted over a field of grass.
This is my orchard. Another interesting story involving fog includes President George Washington. During the Battle of Long Island on August 27, 1776, George Washington and his troops were fighting a losing battle against the British. When a thick fog descended on the area, Washington took the opportunity to withdraw thousands of his troops into Manhattan. After the fog lifted, the British descended on the American positions, only to find they had left. The Americans’ miraculous retreat saved their lives.
These are the great Eastern white pine trees on the left. Hard to see their bold green color, but they do stand out in clear conditions.
On this foggy morning it was even difficult to see trees up close. This is my pinetum, or an arboretum of pine trees or other conifers.
Today we’re expecting one to two inches of rain and high winds with temperatures in the 60s – unusually warm for this time of year. And winter officially starts in just 10 days.
Every year around this time my farm undergoes a great transformation. It's when all the precious boxwood shrubs and hedges are covered with burlap.
I am a big supporter of "burlapping" shrubbery for the cold season. Burlap casings protect the tender branches from splaying and breaking under heavy ice and snow while shielding the foliage from strong winds. Burlap is more effective than plastic because it allows air to circulate through the plants. It is a practice I've followed for many years, and I think it also provides a cozy and pretty look to the winter landscape. Last week, the crew finished the biggest part of this project - my long Boxwood Allée.
Enjoy these photos.
When pipes like these are out this time of year, it can only mean one thing – it’s time to burlap. These pipes, which we keep organized in a back field where we store other supplies, are made from rolled galvanized 16 gauge industrial tubing. They are actually the metal parts of greenhouse hoop houses. I also use them for the framing needed for the protective burlap covers. In all, hundreds of ground stakes, purlin pipes, connectors, nuts, and bolts are used for the project.
The metal pipes and bows are brought out from storage by type and installed in a very organized manner.
To start, pieces are placed along the allée in a production line process. A long piece of twine is used to ensure ground pipes are positioned straight along each side of the allée.
Constructing the frame for the burlap takes several days, but the process is well worth the effort during cold snaps, high winds, and snowstorms.
Ground pipes are installed every four feet along the allée. These hollow pipes will anchor the supports.
These are 10-foot wide bow sections – they will last quite a while and give the boxwood a lot of room to grow. Building the frame at least a foot taller than the majority of the boxwood protects any heavy snow from weighing down onto the tender foliage.
Working in pairs, these bow sections are positioned on both sides of the boxwood.
Each end of the bow piece is inserted into the tall ground pipes.
Here is what it looks like once the bow pieces are in place. The boxwood has grown quite a bit in the last couple of years.
Long center pieces support the perpendicular bow sections.
Small pieces of wood are pounded into the ground next to each steel ground stake. These short wooden pieces provide points at which the burlap can be secured.
Because the burlap comes in 48-inch wide and 60-inch wide rolls, it’s necessary to sew lengths of burlap, so it is wide enough to cover the boxwood. Burlap is relatively inexpensive and available at garden centers.
The fabric is unrolled along the allée and prepared for sewing.
I have a portable bag closing sewing machine that works perfectly for this project and cuts manual sewing times in half. This machine is able to sew long lengths of burlap in just minutes.
The fabric is held taut as the machine is pulled across. It can also be done right on site, which is very convenient.
The machine uses white strong cotton thread and a chain stitch which is formed when the needle passes through the fabric and inter-loops with itself on the underside of the seam. It is often seen on sacks of rice.
Once sewn, the new cover is brought to a designated section and slowly draped over the boxwood.
The crew pulls the burlap over the metal framing and over the shrubs. It takes a couple of crew members to get the burlap over the frame peaks.
To secure the burlap cover tightly, Pete pulls down the burlap and attaches it to the ground stakes using wood strips and screws.
Even scraps of wood can be repurposed for various projects. Here, we cut wooden stakes into small strips. The strips are about six inches long – just long enough to accommodate two screws that will keep the burlap secure.
It looks very tidy once attached. Both the metal and wood stakes can be seen through the fabric.
At the ends, Phurba pulls the burlap snug and begins sewing it closed. For this he uses a large embroidery needle and jute twine.
All the sewing is done using five-inch or eight-inch long craft needles specifically made for working with jute – every member of the outdoor grounds crew has his own needle. These needles have large eyes and bent tips.
Here is what the end sections look like all sewn together. The fabric is pulled taut and secured – all by hand.
Here is one finished section of the Boxwood Allée. The burlap still allows the boxwood to “breathe”, and get sunlight, which is important even during the colder months.
I’ve been “burlapping” for many years and find that this is really the most reliable way to protect my hedges and shrubs. Covering this allée with burlap gives me comfort that all will survive the winter unscathed. And it is so pretty to see all done. And this is just the beginning… the crew has already started “burlapping” another part of farm – wait and see where the “cover up” happens next.
It's always nice to participate in local events and spend time with those in my own neighborhood - especially when the occasion helps something that is so dear to me, The Martha Stewart Center for Living.
Last week, I hosted a Christmas Tree Lighting at The Bedford Post Inn, a charming and historic property not far from my home. The event welcomed 100 guests to gather, enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, sing carols, and light the Inn's holiday tree, which was grown at my farm - with all proceeds going to The Martha Stewart Center for Living. It was a lovely evening with friends old and new.
Here are some photos.
Originally built in 1762, The Bedford Post Inn was believed to have served as a shelter for soldiers during the Revolutionary War. In later years it also provided a restful stop for travelers and postal riders passing though town before it was used as a private residence in the 19th ad 20th centuries. Starting in 2007, the structure was restored and turned into the Inn it is today.
For the event, fresh greenery adorned every staircase and banister.
This mantel was also filled with fragrant evergreen branches and faux candles.
There was a wreath on every window and door.
Bowls of candy canes added touches of color.
On this table, guests could even stop to make their own ornaments as keepsakes from the event.
Anduin Havens, who worked with me as art director on my television shows and many other appearances, oversaw the decorations here at the Bedford Inn.
The main gathering room was ready.
Outside, temperatures hovered in the 40s, so fire pits were all lit.
More greenery and candy were on the tables and bar.
By late afternoon, carolers were outside practicing their selection of classic holiday songs.
This tree was one of hundreds of small seedlings planted at my farm in 2009. It has grown so beautifully over the years. Days earlier, I personally selected this one to be cut down and donated to the Bedford Inn.
As the sun set, the lights around the Inn were turned on.
… And so were the lights inside.
This tree was just inside the entrance of the Inn. It was also grown at my farm.
Here I am watching as the champagne tower was filled – and not a drop spilled.
Guests arrived on time. It was so nice to see such a lively and cheerful crowd. It’s also nice that so many people attended to help raise money for The Martha Stewart Center for Living.
When it was time for the lighting, everyone moved outside. Thankfully, it was not too cold or windy. The weather definitely worked in our favor.
Soon, everyone was gathered around the tree.
I even joined in and sang carols.
It was lots of fun for all.
And then I counted down and flipped the switch for the lights to turn on. So beautiful and bright. Happy holidays!
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