The Long and Winding Road...

I think I like the genus Galanthus (Snowdrops) for the sole reason these miniature ephemerals signal the beginning of the end of winter. Yes, it's an unfathomably long way to go until summer, but here's proof that we're making forward progress.

Speaking of progress, I felt it was time to remove the protection from my Musa basjoo (Hardy banana) grove. Based off of the unseasonably warm weather we had this weekend and a favorable forecast, I'm betting on no more arctic air invasions this winter...



This 1" x 2" gash in the side of my Trochodendron aralioides was the worst casualty of the ice/freezing rain spell that tormented the South Sound area two weeks ago.



Finally, the way the flowers on this Hamamelis intermedia (Witch Hazel) glow in the sunshine go a long way toward making me not loathe winter so much.

In the Bleak Midwinter

Freezing rain is the evil step sister of snow. We had 6" of snow on Wednesday (1/18) followed by an inch of ice on Thursday (1/19). The supercooled raindrops instantly froze to whatever they touched - like this witch hazel (Hamamelis intermedia). Unfortunately, the ice also cut off the power.

Below, the redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens) had a few branch casualties. Considering people cut holes through these trees and drive through them, I'm confident it will recover just fine.



Some plants will have a tougher recovery though. I noticed a major branch had broken off of my Trochodendron aralioides (pictured below, off to the left behind the bamboo).


Ice can be very beautiful when it's not ruining things.



An "ice fossil" of a palm tree.


Somewhere under those icicles are flower buds on this Camellia sasanqua.


Normally this bamboo (Phyllostachys rubromarginata) hides our neighbor's motor home shed. Not today.


One unlikely plant that managed to stay standing: this Melianthus major.


Hopefully the fish are doing alright under all that slush in the pond. No power means no water circulation but they are pretty much in hibernation mode anyway.


Finally, a look inside the greenhouse. Under normal circumstances the temperature in there never falls below 50 degrees, but with the power being out, there's not much I can do about that!