Monday, January 12, 2015

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?

27 comments:

Beuna said...

Beautiful photos of the frost! Congratulations on your 1000 post!

Marisa said...

Beautiful wintery pics! Weather is cold here, too. Too cold for ice on anything, I think - we don't usually get that iciness here. Just cold and snow. You've inspired me to go out and check out what prettiness I can find.... Congrats on your 1000th post - that is a lot! :)

Bethany said...

I live in Kentucky and it is cold but not icy. The trees are bare. There are few living plants to be seen. I saw some plantain that was still alive driving home from a New Year's party. My dream is to find cottonwood buds . . . and that spring will come quickly!

Sra. Egge said...

What an accomplishment! congratulations!

Susan said...

Your Pictures are beautiful, Mother Nature is the best artist! Congrats on the 1000!

Denise said...

Gorgeous pictures! Love the magazine and the Through the Seasons book!
Denise

Fran Malone said...

At least you have color. In SW Ohio all we have is grey, wet, flat and damp bone cold stuff.

I am glad that we do not have snow because the hills make life dangerous.

Thankful for your camera and ability to capture some of the beauty of the season and its charm.

Marti said...

Awesome photos of the ice, always a good thing to document the beauty of the season, and on this landmark blogpost. Congratulations on jobs well done with your work. Your hard work is spreading from person to person, you should be proud

Anonymous said...

I too love White Pines and your pictures are stunning! Congratulations on your 1000th post!!

Tammy W.

Unknown said...

It's time to get in the last of the winter crops in our area. The compost is mostly broken down, the grass is growing where we don't want it to, along with clover beyond belief. I can't wait for real spring, then summer! LOL!

TJ Holley said...

I love all those winter pictures. Helps remind this Alaskan what winter looks like since we've had warmer weather and mostly rain here. Love your blog and magazine. Thank you!!!

TJ Holley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maggie Emm said...

That looks cold but beautiful! We have a little bit of snow forecast here in Somerset, England, which is exciting as we rarely get it - it makes everything brighter in dark January!

Debra Fillingim said...

Love the photos. I am from Rochester NY, the snow belt. I live in Florida now and do not want to go back. I have many happy memories though of all the things we did when snowed in (sewing, jelly making, rummy). I recently went to Washington state for a wedding in December and there is nothing more beautiful than icy trees-I admit the photos had me missing snow just a little..

Unknown said...

left a post yesterday, but guessing it didn't register. Yesterday in Southern New Jersey, it was cold and rainy. Grateful we did not get the ice that had been forcast. Today is still cold, but the sun is out. Hoping all have a beautiful day and enjoy all that you are given.

Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh said...

Never has ice looked so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I guess the weather was not as bad as it could have been.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos! We got lots of rain here on the Texas Gulf Coast, but the only ice I've seen since moving here 2 years ago is in a beverage glass.

E Harwood said...

Chilly but not really icy here in the Pac NW. Amazing photos - thank you for taking the time to stop and smell the roses and share it with us! Congrats on the 1000th post - amazing milestone!

sjalli said...

Your pictures are so beautiful and foreign to me. I live in the central valley of california and we have nothing like this cold here. I am glad to see your chickweed so perky, I've been harvesting some daily for weeks. Yum. That said I would also love the pdf subscription, have been a great fan of teh forever it seems. Thanks for everything!

Akaliene said...

Congratulations on your 1000th post! I am from California so I will just zip my lips as to our weather here. I love the gorgeous pictures that you sent. It reminds me that I need to stop and see the beauty in everything. Thank you for sharing a moment when you were truly 'present.'

Cathie said...

Gorgeous photos!! One of those figs which comes back every spring is definitely in my plans this year. Thank you for sharing the beauty with us!

Becky W said...

BEAUTIFUL pictures!! I love Concolor Firs - my favorite Christmas tree.

Laurie said...

I love when the weather brings us the frosted trees, it is almost magical. I take a lot of pictures when this happens. But when this happens it seems much warmer. Today we had a high of 11 degrees with a balmy overnight low of -14 last night. My poor little 4 pound teacup poodle does his dreaded trips outside rather quickly in this weather. By Saturday it will be a beautiful 38 degrees for the high. I really dread the return of winter each year but the occasional warm days that make it all worth it. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos.
P.S. I see you have some bare spots on the ground, I will gladly send you some Minnesota snow!
Laurie

La Tea Dah said...

The ice makes everything so beautiful! I love how the strength of nature shines through in all your pictures.

Deb said...

We've had some real cold this winter - down into the teens which is rare in the Pacific NorthWet. I'm glad it has warmed up to a more normal 35*-50* even though it makes for lots of dark and dreary days.

I think your ice and snow are beautiful - as long as I can see it in pictures and don't have to walk through it. ;>

Congrats on the 1K - that's a lot of words to share - I appreciate it.

Debbie said...

Congratulations on your 1000th blog post; that is an amazing accomplishment! Your photos are beautiful. Winter garden photography is my favorite, I think, (as a photographer) because there is less chance that a photo shoot will turn out to be the "gardening of the day." That has happened to me more times than I should admit, when I take the camera outside along with my shovel.

Thanks for all the information and inspiration you provide.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing the beauty surrounding you! I looked out the window this morning and Mother Nature put on a beautiful show. The hoar frost has flocked trees and fences making everything so lovely and pristine. I'm glad I got to see it before it was gone for the day.