Icy Walk to the Mailbox (Post #1000)

Molly took the orders out to the mailbox this morning as she and Maryanne headed out on deliveries.  Later I noticed a couple of things she missed, and grabbed the camera before taking them out.  The weather has been obnoxious here, as it has been all over the US, but from my perch looking out the window, I could see iced droplets hanging on everything.  Makes for some beautiful sights in the middle of winter.

And I just noticed that this is our 1000th blog post!  I'm going to share this post several places.  Comment on it, and I'll choose someone to get a free pdf subscription on Wednesday!**** our winner is Tj Holley**** Thanks for playing, everyone!


 Here's what I saw out in the yard...
The Juniper berries that are so easily visible in summer are nearly hidden in their icy cases.  

 Although we've gone way below freezing for several days and nights running, the Chickweed beneath some of the evergreens is still cheerful and vibrant.

 The Concolor Fir (aka White Fir) out back stands silently watching over the fields ensconced in a shimmering gown of crystalline ice.  To those of us living here, this tree is very special.  Our mother (and grandmother) loved it, and it is where we go to talk to her.  It holds its own universe inside, with many bird families in the boughs, and I suspect an occasional skunk beneath them.  One winter night during a full moon, I saw a great horned owl perched on the uppermost part of the tree with the glowing round moon as her backdrop.

 A piece of garden decor stands as a protector for a small Fig tree in our new fruit tree orchard.  It kept the mower and weed whacker away, but I noticed today that it did not do the same for whatever nibbled the top of the fig branches.  I learned last year that it will survive, growing up from the roots (as my completely banded 6 year old fig tree did last year).

We had an enormous Fennel return last year - not bronze either - Florence!  I gathered about 1/2 the seeds this year, but left plenty behind.  Maryanne makes a great salad using fennel and oranges.

 All of the leaves on the Holly bush are sheeted with ice.

 Parsley umbel under ice.  This is another plant that I'd love to see reseeding as well as the Fennel.  We use a lot of parsley here.  It grows near the Cilantro and Borage, and they have all the room they need to stretch out and multiply.

 A beautiful, mature White Pine serves as a windbreak on the side of the house.  When my sister and her husband bought this farm, nearly all of the trees were White Pines, but there are few of them now as tastes have changed, and people prefer Balsam Firs, Concolor Firs, and Scots Pines.  They are all wonderful, but I'm happy to have this one nearby.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?