Beginning of the month view

It rained most of Saturday with gray skies, winds and a temperature in the high 30s. It felt like the beginning of December even if the weather was not particularly wintry. Today was more of the same, though the rain was rather sporadic until it turned to light snow in the late afternoon. I decided to post these photos I took this morning as I have a feeling the garden may look quite different tomorrow. 

The rain and the light had all the greens glowing, especially the lichens, mosses and mostly faded water iris leaves at the back edge of the pond. The pond is still ice covered; the rainwater is just pooling on the top of it. Those stakes by the small shrubs are to mark them in case they get buried in snow. I don't want to accidentally step on my precious shrubs and ruin them. 

See how green those stone steps leading up to the Tea House are? That means the rain has brought up all the lichens on them, making them dangerously slippery. 

I always take an alternative route when any of the stone stairs or stepping stones get really greenish.

I'm leaving the dwarf Ginkgo uncaged (lower left), though I did cage the new baby tree — Carpinus betulus 'colunaris nana' — on the slope to the right of the steps. The tall, narrow tree holding its leaves is a Korean maple with Hakonechloa grass in the background. 

Shade and a lot of wet weather have changed our Mica rock's look from glitter to velvet. 

I probably got 3/4 of the cleanup done that I hoped to accomplish before it snowed. So I am trying not to obsess about all the unfinished jobs I can still see out the window. I'm guessing they will all be under a blanket of white tomorrow morning. Out of sight and out of mind again.  

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I was wondering if I should cage a couple more things before it turns so cold. Your garden looks very neat. One is never finished with chores.

[Kris P]

Three-quarters is good, especially when the weather isn't cooperating!

[Michelle]

I am wishing for snow cover that will stick around so I don't have to think about all of those unfinished jobs until spring.

[Linda Brazill]

I agree. Plus I want the insulation of a good snow cover for my plants.

[Cortney D]

It's just so crazy that you all don't have snow yet! I'm only 3 hours NW of you and we are under a heavy blanket of it already!