Today is a heat wave, almost reaching 32F. (But temps starting to drop and snow to fall tonight and next few days.) We have been in a deep freeze with enough snow cover for the plants since around New Year's I think. Can't recall exactly. Judge time by how my dog reacts when we go out for a walk. This photo is of the American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) out back at the beginning of the cold and snow. I far prefer Real Winter to the gray, mild weather we had around Christmas: there are reason I don't live in Seattle. The other is that I don't drink coffee. Although friends say that the persistent green makes up for the gray. I am a 4-season, Midwestern gal. One of the thrills of living in this region is going through the cyclical changes. With Climate Change, things are off, but we still generally have seasons. Plant changes are accompanied by emotional shifts. To me, Winter is a necessary fallow, reflective period after the busy pace of the growing season. The moon and stars in a sharp, clear winter sky: transporting!
