In Oklahoma today, we’re in the midst of snow play. Bear is testing the snow now to see if it’s the good sledding kind. I’m betting it is. I’ll join her as soon as I write this post.
In recent years, Oklahoma has had more snow than I remember from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s let alone the 2000s. However, I thought the winter of 2014-2015 was never going to start. It felt like one of those warm non-winters Oklahoma gets every few years. No wonder the plants stay so confused. Days in the 50s were the norm in December and January, and everything had that brown and gray cast we always see on cloudy winter days. In February, roses broke bud and began leafing out. I was getting lots of emails about pruning and hard freezes. Gardeners were understandably worried. Go ahead and prune after this snowstorm melts if you haven’t already. Your roses should recover from the freeze thaw cycle if they are established plants. If they don’t, it’s a new garden opportunity, and the rose was already weak.
I was bemoaning being behind, yet again. I always feel behind from late February through early April. Then, it all sorts itself out, and I can enjoy easier garden chores. I am already behind. I normally plant my cold weather veggies seeds by the last week of February. Next week is supposed to have better temperatures and rain at the end, so I plan to sow seeds on Tuesday once the snow melts.
That’s the thing about Oklahoma snow in late winter/early spring. You can get three or four inches, and it may melt in a day or two. Sorry Boston friends. Just remember us in July, August and September when we’re living in hell.
This week Oklahoma had two snow storms with thawing in between. Tomorrow morning ice is forecast so I went out to take pictures while it was still snowing. I don’t really like walking on ice, but snow isn’t so bad while it’s still falling. The hardest part is keeping your camera lens down so that it doesn’t get so wet.
Tap and Maddie ran circles around me as I walked in my snow boots. Both of them love snow, but Tap especially does. He was crawling on his belly and eating mouthfuls of the cold stuff and making me laugh.
We walked, or rather I walked, and they ran all around the property. The fitbit didn’t record my steps. I guess I had on too many layers. It’s 21F, but the snow was falling softly, and there was no wind. I wasn’t cold. Below is our barn in the snow. Once a six-stall horse barn, it’s now home to the 25 chickens we have. They were all inside their coops as cozy as chickens can be.
I hope you’re having decent weather wherever you are. I also hope we don’t get ice tonight. Happy Weekend!
Wonderful pictures, the snow is nice to look at when it first falls. In Ma it is all covered in black dirt and doesnt look so pretty now. It reached 50 degrees yesterday, Spring is almost here!!
Up until the start of February, our winter was weak with low snow. But since then, wow! It’s been colder and snowier than last year, and that’s quite a feat. It’s now March 7, and winter is still hanging tough. Please let it end soon! I should be out trimming back my ornamental grasses, butterfly bush and ninebark, and pruning away the winter damage on the roses. Pretty hard to do with snow everywhere. About three years ago, I had iris reticulata in bloom on February 22! Guess we’ll be a few weeks behind on everything this year.
I love the photos of the cardinals in the snow! I’ve seen very few cardinals this winter, and I wonder why because they’re always around and have nests here in the spring. Sophie, my Golden Retriever, loves the snow and would enjoy playing with Tap and Maddie, but the two smaller dogs don’t appreciate it so much–they wait for Sophie to make a pathway for them:) Congratulations on your blogging award–much deserved!
Thank you Rose. All the snow is melted now. I think I have so many cardinals because Bill has two feeders set up off of the deck. I have lots of squirrels too. Ha! All the snow is gone now, and I hope it’s gone until next year. Happy Spring Rose!
Hi Dee,
I’m very ready for winter to be over, but It’s still fun to read what winter is like in other states. Your dogs and property are beautiful….even when covered by snow! I can see now why you won a blog award at GBC in Atlanta…..what a wonderful site!
If you get a chance, stop by at http://www.morethanoregano.com and say, “Hello.” I’d love to hear from you.
~Beth
Hi Beth and thank you so much. We are all spring like today. I popped on over to your site. Very, very nice.
Beautiful photos!!!! So cute with the dogs playing. Love the photo of the Cardinals!!! Great shots!!
Thank you so much Kacky!
Your pictures are beautiful! Especially the Cardinals in the snow….striking! Here it is March 2nd. I’m hoping you survived the ice. Your winter really sounds like ours…..warm and no snow until the end of January and now it never stops! Here’s to spring all over the northern hemisphere!
Sally, I must say I’m ready for spring to arrive, but I guess we’re getting more snow tomorrow. Well, at least the snow earlier in the week finally melted. After this, great temperatures. I think I’ll plant some cold crop seeds outside today.
The dogs look like they are enjoying the snow! I love the picture of the cardinals…so pretty and bright against the black and white backdrop.
They do seem to love the snow much more than I Laurin. Ha! Yes, those flashy Cardinals are beauties, the best part of winter IMHO.
I hope some of that melted snow might end up in your neighbor’s pond. When John Lennon died I was sitting in the communal living room of my dorm. Your husband made much more use of the time than I did.
Les, I suspect after he heard Lennon was killed, work ended that day. He was and is a huge fan. It was a terrible day. I was working at a law firm when some of our staff started crying.
It’s nice to see your dogs enjoying the snow, Dee. I am trying to appreciate its beauty, and not wish my life away. We had a couple of days above zero (F), so I am hopeful March wont be as bad as February was. P. x
Hi Pam! Nice to see you. 🙂 I am also trying to enjoy everyday, but like you, I’ve about had it. February has been pretty difficult, not as difficult as for northerners, but it was so cold here most of the month. We should now be in the 50s, but we aren’t. I’m trying not to whine, but I am close.
No decent weather here….frigid cold still and everything is still buried in snow. Your gardens look beautiful in the snow Dee!
Oh Donna, I can only imagine. We aren’t buried in snow, but we’re glad to see February in our rearview mirror. Here’s to a better March for all of the U.S.
I’ve seen a lot of dogs that like snow, but our cat sure doesn’t. She begs to go out and then is highly offended that the white stuff is still out there.
Kathy, Bear and I had to laugh at the description of your cat being offended. It reminded us of our Sophie. She wants to catch the birds, but won’t step outside. She is easily offended by many things. 😉
P. S. Annie like Tap and Maddie loves the snow. This winter she didn’t like the bitter cold. She loves to get out there and wrestle with the neighbor’s granddog. Fun to watch since we don’t have children here anymore.
We are having similar weather. The snow is supposed to arrive around 7 tonight. Winter storm warning until 7pm tomorrow. What a winter this has been. I am curious as to whether you put your cold weather crops right into the ground or do you start them in your greenhouse? Cheers…and do be safe it it ices.
Hi Lisa, I’m sorry you’re getting more snow. I’m with Annie. The cold is such a drag. At least this storm stopped the eternal wind that sweeps down the plains. Oklahoma wind is mighty stuff. The ice that was forecast was mostly a bust I’m happy to say. I start my cold weather seeds like lettuce, spinach, beets, etc., directly outside. By the time they are up and growing, the weather usually cooperates. If I started them inside, I would need to start in January. It would make things faster, but I’m already getting ready to start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and some flowers inside for transplanting at the end of April.
What wonderful birds those cardinals are, it’s so nice to see them on American blogs. Makes our lbj’s (little brown jobs) seem very dull in comparison!
Hello Rusty Duck! Are you lbj’s the common sparrow? I have loads of those too, but the Cardinal bullies work hard to keep them away from the feeder. We also have Juncos, and Bill put some seeds on an egg carton on the chairs to keep them satisfied. The Mourning Doves feed on the ground, but they are so skittish they are hard to photograph. Even Bluejays are scared of the Cardinals when there are black oil sunflower seeds in the feeder. Bad boys and girls, but they are so pretty.
Love all of your pictures, especially all the cardinals. I have one pair, lots of little finches. Also, like the barn.
Thank you so much Martie. I didn’t put up the Nyger seed this year, and I don’t have as many finches, both the Purple of the American Goldfinch. We only get to keep the goldfinches until mating season. About the time their plumage begins to brighten, they fly away.
Dee, I didn’t realize how low your lake had gotten! This drought in our western states is still so bad. Maybe, the snow melt will help! Beautiful photos of your garden in snow.
Yes, it’s very low. I’m rather worried. I hope we get more rain next week.
I’m loving the snow we are getting. So nice! Your pictures are lovely!
Hey Christina, I can’t say I’m loving it, but it’s interesting. Glad to get the moisture.
What a beautiful backdrop for that fresh fallen snow – almost makes me miss winter, almost. I’m sure I’ll still get my share when I return home the first day of Spring. Just love the Cardinals! Such a pretty arbor, too. I am going to have to build a new one. Mine is succumbing to the weight of a trumpet vine – sooner than I thought – I was hoping to create a living arbor from two trumpet vines. Time will tell. For all I know it’s toppled to the ground!
I hope it isn’t Kathy. I really do. I’m glad you got away from winter. If all my kids were grown….