Iras, Day #2

We awoke to rainfall this morning but unfortunately it was more freezing rain. The Winter Storm Warning had changed to a Freezing Rain Warning and was extended until 4 PM today. That time frame was just about right. I bundled up around 4 PM and went for a walk around the property. The temperature had finally gotten above freezing and I could heard dripping water everywhere. Once in a while a tree would dramatically dump part of its load of ice and snow with a crash.

Thankfully we didn't get as much ice accumulation as we did in Mid-December but it still coated everything. The last of the crab apples looked especially pretty encapsulated in ice.

The red branches of a young maple tree. 

The Douglas Fir trees were all coated in a mix of snow and ice.

I ran into two does during my hike. I feel for them. It must be difficult to find much to eat when the world is all covered in snow and ice.

Above, a stand of hazelnut brush and below the wreath on our front gate. The snow on the ground  was definitely getting slushier during my walk. Here's hoping the temperature continues to rise as predicted and this all disappears tomorrow.

Winter Storm Iras

As predicted, Winter Storm Iras rolled into town early this morning. This storm started down in Douglas County and moved northward, bringing both freezing rain and snow. We started the day with freezing rain but thankfully not too much. Then around 10 AM, the snow moved in. The weather service reports we received 4.5" and then it turned back into freezing rain.

By this evening, all of the snow is now covered in a light crust of ice. The low is suppose to be 25 tonight and the Winter Storm Warning has now been extended until 6 AM Sunday. Sigh. I am really getting tired of freezing rain and ice, and it's only January 7th! At least it made for a lovely view tonight on my walk around at dusk. All of the Christmas lights glowed against the backdrop of whites and grays.

Freezing Weather

As promised, extremely cold weather has set in. Yesterday's snowfall hasn't gone anywhere and the temperatures are bitterly cold. This morning's low of 13 set a record for December 5th. The old record was 15 degrees, set back in 1924 and today's high only reached 31! Tonight we are expecting another cold one, around 18 for the low. At least I can look at this picture of the snow covered Big Garden and be very thankful that all of my dahlias are dug and safely stored away from the freezing temperatures. It makes all of my hard work in late October and November worth every minute.

First Freeze of the Year & Freezing Rain

We had our first killing frost overnight, along with some freezing rain around 7:00 AM as I ate breakfast. The reported low was 32 degrees but I think it might have been a little colder down in the big garden. All of the dahlia foliage is now brown and the Zinnias and Marigolds have expired too. The growing season is officially over.