It snowed over night, and I woke up to the beauty of a world draped and trimmed in fluffy white. My son remarked how much warmer it felt with the snowfall, but we didn’t know why. Turns out Susan Reimer has done some homework on it:
Snow actually protects the garden from the cold, and especially from the drying effects of a cold wind. It is an excellent insulator. Snow increases the temperature at soil surface by about 2 degrees for every inch of accumulation, according to the Purdue University extension service.
As the snowflakes pile on top of one another, pockets of air are left between them and it is this air that provides the insulating effect.
Snow not only protects from the drying winds, but it brings needed moisture to plants that will continue to lose moisture through their branches, both evergreen and leafless. And, of course, melting snow feeds the soil, carrying nutrients and moisture.
She also highlighted one of Kylee‘s pictures, with exceptional winter garden color from red osier dogwood and a spiky Yucca filimentosa.
I don’t usually like yucca plants in Ohio- but I like Kylee’s. I think it is in how plants are used that creates the difference. I love her combination of dogwood with it.
The snow is already starting to melt- I wonder if that insulating effect of snowflakes also works as they are falling through the air?
I had fun following tracks around my yard when out taking some photos. I see that deer are visiting. Not sure I like that- as they can do so much damage.
I hope my husband fixes my greenhouse soon. The last windstorm blew out some pannels and they were damaged. We are waiting on replacements. I lost some plants I was storing in there.
Beautiful country picture. I gather you live in the country..?
Thank you- yes, it is flat and rural 🙂 Every place has its own beauty.
But I sure love ocean and hills!
I had to look twice at your photo. It looks remarkably similar to a portion of our yard! Thank you for the mention. You’re so sweet, always.
I think it was last year that I blogged about the snow thing. I did an experiment by actually putting a thermometer down into the snow to see if the temperature was any warmer inside it than outside. If I remember correctly, there was a couple of degrees difference, but there’s also the wind factor.
Isn’t this snow beautiful? It’s days like this that I LOVE winter.