Snow on Leap Day

Inevitably, it always snows! My garden looks fresh again! The snow continues to fall this morning and the world is thick with this white stuff.

 The seed heads and sturdy stems of the native Actaea racemosa seem to hold up the best of the tall, summer blooming Actaeas/Cimicifugas.

 

The twisted tumble weed stems of Lespedeza bicolor. This plant dies to the ground in zone 5 here in Putney, but reemerges from deep in the earth, pushing up asparagus like shoots in the late spring. 

Winter Scapes

I thought I would include pictures of some of the recent places I have been.  The wintery world of New England almost makes you forget there ever were such things as gardens. I keep thinking that this very beautiful and important time of year must somehow influence the way I garden? I love the slowness, the coldness, the sparseness of snow and winter- white landscapes of cold ocean shores, unobstructed mountain views, and heavy plant material thick with snow. 

Above: A view from Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park

Granite shore at Thunder Hole looking to the Atlantic

Blue Hill seen in the distance from the northwest slope of Beech Mountain, Acadia National Park.

Looking south from the Beech Mountain trail to the ocean.

Looking east from the top of Beech Mountain fire tower.

Indian Point, Mount Desert Island.

 View of Mount Washington from Zeacliffs in the White Mountains, New Hampshire.

Same view near sunset.