Superbowl Snowstorm

Much of the country has been having their share of big winter snowstorms and we here in Chicago got ours this past weekend. The snow started Saturday late afternoon, and didn’t end until the lake effect finale finally moved on around 6 am Monday morning.  All total, this end up the as the 5th biggest single snowfall. At my house, I measured 19.75 in of snow.

Stephi Gardens

The plows had a lot of trouble keeping up.   But I have to admit, it was one of those really pretty snows, at least until the wind picked up and the bushes started collapsing under the weight of the snow.

Stephi Gardens

Stephi Gardens

The birds were really thankful for the feeders, even if they were covered in snow! The goldfinches, chickadees, cardinals, juncoes, red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, purple finches, and house sparrows all ventured out in the snow to visit the feeders.

No squirrels around all weekend, they must be hunkered down in their nests.

Stephi Gardens

The snow in the NoNo sunflower ball didn’t bother the chickadees and goldfinches.  They were visiting all day, except of course, when I was out there shooting the picture.

Stephi Gardens

This tube feeder is my “sparrow’ feeder.

Stephi Gardens

The heated birdbath kept the water thawed pretty well during the storm.  This is the first winter I’ve had one out.  I was lucky enough to get it as a hand-me-down when my mom got a new one.  They’re not here now, but in the winter the birds like a place to get an easy drink.

Stephi Gardens

The arborvitaes are not faring very well with all this snow.  Hopefully they literally bounce back once the snow melts.

winter arborvitae

Daisy and I are not going out there!

Stephi Gardens

So instead we made a path for Daisy to get around.  Those little legs are not made for deep snow!   I also have to thank my boys for shoveling paths to all the bird feeders when they were snowblowing and shoveling on their snow day off of school.   This snow was too deep for me as well.  This is much better!

Westie

But, my snowman  didn’t mind at all!

Stephi Gardens

When the sun came out after the storm was done, the sky was a beautiful sapphire blue.

Stephi Gardens

 

First Frost Warning is Coming Tonight!

I feel pretty lucky that we’ve squeaked out an extra week or so before the first hard frost has hit the Chicago area. NOAA has issued it’s first freeze watch for the area for tonight, almost a week my after the average date for my area.  We might even get some flurries! Chicago is a little difficult to know what will really happen weather-wise at any one spot in the region, since Lake Michigan and other land features create a lot of micro-climates that skew local temperatures and precipitation.  You can check out your first frost dates on Dave’s Garden.

Even so, I think tonight will be it for the plants. I went around yesterday and took some last pictures of the flowers and harvested the last of the vegetables in preparation. I’m always a little sad this time of year, when the garden still looks so inviting after having finally recovered from the harsh mid -summer conditions. Yet I know it is only a matter of time till it’s over.  It’s like the plants want that last hurrah before going to sleep for the winter, or for the annuals, to go out in a blaze of glory.

Final Garden Harvest–having just been in Charleston, I am going to use those green tomatoes!
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 The garden is still in bloom

sedum

hydrangea

hydrangea

petunia geranium

IMG_1081

cosmos

rosebud

marigolds
Some of the trees are showing their colors, but not very uniformly or brilliantly. Some are showing the stress of  2 harsh summers and disease, while others haven’t even begun to change.

purple ash

branched maple

maple

It’ll be interesting to see what it al looks like tomorrow. I’m torn as to whether I should bring in that beautiful single rosebud to protect it, or see what happens if I leave it.