We don’t usually get significent snowfall in October, at most, a few flurries. Yesterday, what was predicted to be ‘an inch of snow turning to rain’ turned into 3.5″ of heavy, wet snow with a topping of sleet. An October surprise!
While many trees have shed their leaves, there were plenty of shrubs and oaks with leaves still on and I worried that the soggy load would cause breakage. In the above photo, on the right is the weigela weighed down and just past the sunspace, the fothergilla is flattened. After I took these photos, I went around with a broom to knock off the excess. I’m glad to report all made it through fine and today are standing back up. The oak across the road lost a few branches, but it was sustainable. Not wasted, it will be windfall firewood for us.
Cornus kousa
Viburnum tomentosum mariesii
The Korean dogwood bends under its load and you can see the whiteout beyond.
And for those following my Tuesday Views, here’s the garden. You can see snowflakes falling past the camera and the little blue globe stands abandoned by its floral friends. The Eastern redbud shrub at the forest edge, and an oak behind it, still have leaves.
A stroll down to the river shows more whiteout and a just-turning American beech hunkers down. Below is the view upriver. It really is coming down heavily. My fingers are frozen, but it sure is pretty!
Snow etching
Buddha serenely weathers the storm
Once milkweed pods (Asclepias species) dry and start to split open, collect the seeds and sow them directly where you want them to grow, covering them lightly with loose soil. They need a cold period in order to germinate, so winter will take care of that requirement for you. They’ll germinate at the right time next spring.
My orange Blenko vase was just the thing to hold an arrangement featuring all the hues of autumn, starting with orange and yellow calendula (C. officinalis).
Small wands of wild goldenrod (Solidago sp.), picked from an area that was mowed in August, managed to bloom despite the setback.
Yellowed lady fern fronds (Athyrium filix-femina) were a must and vertical touches were provided by fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides).
Thanks to Cathy at 
