Lazy Days Of Thanksgiving

I took advantage of a power outage and came home early yesterday afternoon. The power was out and the gate wouldn't open. Too bad.

But this was a disconnect your service outage, not a wind and power line outage. I found the notice that had blown off the gate. What the? How cold is that? What kind of power company (Duke) would turn off somebody's power with no notice the day before Thanksgiving for what was obviously one months bill that was missed by the amount due listed. Seriously, they have a multi-year history of a perfectly fine account. That's just cold and ruthless.

Oh well. I made the appropriate calls. The appropriate people handled it and the power was turned back on that same afternoon. But damn that's cold.

I went for a walk with the Witch Hazels.

Decent weather in daylight hours when I am home is a rare commodity this time of year. The definition of decent weather changes a bit too, but that is what long underwear and hats are for.

I walked and plotted.

Enjoying the far reaches of the Under Garden as it comes out for the winter.

Rain and snow continue to press the chopped and standing meadow back into the earth.

I already planned to take Thanksgiving day off and relax. Trust me, I know how to pick a property and work on a holiday. The older I get the less likely that is going to happen.

I wandered and plotted.

The weather was going to be decent tomorrow after the howling wind died down.

Late in the day, round about decent, I went out in the garden for a little more chop and drop. The Under Garden has been expanding.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata' and Cotoneater dammeri 'Streib's Findling' have come out for the winter.

I also chopped the hillside of injured conifers. This slope has become home to a number of second chance plants.

The Japanese Christmas tree should be naked in plenty time. Another snow storm and some more wind will do it.

It was a most fine, perfectly lazy Thanksgiving day.

Here Is The Snow

This was last Sunday morning.

The Under Garden after the rain.

The sun came out by mid morning and the snow began to melt.

The forest trees turned into a wall of crystal chandeliers and it was my day off.

The Under Garden In The Rain

It rained All Day Long. It was a test of confinement.

I could only wander as far as the front porch and stay dry. The wet really does make the colors of the Under Garden come out.

One good thing, it took two hours to pick out an outfit to wear for a party on Monday. Yes I had to plan that far ahead. I haven't felt the need to make myself look pretty in a long time. I hope I can pull it off.

It just kept raining.

I went and fetched the umberella so I could wander a tiny bit further.

I didn't get far.

The wet brought the color back out in the freeze dried Japanese Maple. That was a bit surprising.

The word is the rain is going to turn to snow. The temperature is dropping fast. The wind is blowing hard and cold. I think I saw flakes. The Under Garden will be different tomorrow.

Shiny Objects In The Garden

For the purpose of pleasure only.

The Under Garden Is Out

What were the chances I would be able to wait for a heavy wet snow to smash the dried remains of the Tall Flower Meadow down? Slim to none of course.

It was Sunday, sunny and near sixty degrees. I got to chopping.

It was the first work like activity I have done in the garden in months.

I just chop it down and leave it lay to rot. A wild cultivated garden truly is less work than a proper garden.

Now I will wait for one or many heavy wet snows to smash the other two and a half acres of meadow down. I'll get to all that in late January to February. The Under Garden of winter viewing is ready for the season. That is all I cared about.

A Bewitching Bloom Day

Tuesday's bout of cold and snow has taken the forest pretty close to completely naked. My neighbor's birch tree, as always, is the last tree in the forest to do fall.

The Barren Time is here. That is when the witches come out.

The native Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, blooms late October and well into November. Cold does not bother it in the least. Even a freakish low of 12 degrees so early in the season left it unfazed.

I can pretty well rely on them to have something in bloom in the garden for November's Bloom Day. But Bloom Day is a world wide event so you can travel off the mountain to see more.

Two years in a row they are having an exceptional showing. Sometimes the bloom can be rather sparse.

I found a post bloom Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, putting out its seeds while admiring the witches on a still cold afternoon.

Now I wait, for a crushing snow, for the mood to strike, for the time and weathers to present an opportune moment. The Under Garden wants to come out to play. It's in there just waiting to be revealed.

I may get low on flowers in the Barren Time, but I planted a garden that can pull me outside every day of the year.

Snow Day

I had big plans for a day of power lounging.

Unfortunately, I accomplished way more than intended.

The cats sure know how to power lounge.

There was a short nap

A walk up to the mailbox

And a nice supper.

All for a whole lot of cold and not that much snow.