Snow: The beautiful and the bad

Yesterday's snow was the best kind — wet — so it sticks to everything, creating that winter wonderland look. The other advantage of this latest snow is the fact that it added to the insulation of the garden which was rather thin as it's been such a dry winter. These pictures were taken at 7 a.m.-ish Tuesday morning through the windows.

If you are not from snow country you may think it is the cold weather associated with snow that is the biggest danger for gardens.

Snow looks so light and fluffy coming down, but wet snow like this is the worst kind as it weighs down the branches of trees and shrubs, often breaking them. You can see what I mean on the chamaecyparis outside the window on the right below. It's all flopped over from the weight of the snow.  

The day after this kind of a storm, we typically go out into the garden and shake the snow off a number of trees and shrubs that have proven susceptible to damage in the past. I was hoping it might melt off during the day Tuesday but no such luck.

Comments

[Loree / danger garden]

I remember my parents talking about wet snow vs. dry snow. It was all lost on me until I started gardening. Wet snow is right up there with freezing rain. Ugly for the plants.

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

Gosh you guys seem to be having much more snow than us this year. I'm so over winter (already, sigh), but a little more snow would probably be good for the garden. But, as you point out, only the good kind!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Darn the luck. Our Camy doesn't like snow either. It has so far snapped back. Good luck.

[Peter/Outlaw]

It's beautiful to see and you've made a great choice to enjoy it from the warmth of your house! Hope it doesn't cause a lot of damage in your garden. Sometimes I miss winter but am so thankful to live where so much is hardy. Still, when the rare flakes fly, I'm transported to what nostalgia has made a magical time and place. Thanks for the sweet memories.