snow on Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) seedheads
Frigid Friday was given the week off for Christmas, and it wasn't even frigid here in Chicagoland (a balmy 44F/6.5C) on Christmas Day. All the snow melted off the driveway and patio, and in some areas (not in my yard) the grass was visible. Then, late in the day the temperature dropped and the rain changed to snow. It didn't stop for 24 hours. The forecast called for 1-3 inches. Not even close, folks. There was so much snow, after the plow came in the morning, we didn't see it again for another 12 hours. Maybe we didn't get as much as Maryland and Oklahoma have gotten recently, but it was enough to render us snowbound for most of the day, ending up with about 9 inches. Luckily, the snow was of the light, fluffy, easily shovelable variety.
While VIS and I shoveled the driveway (repeatedly), the girl was excited about playing in the snow.
I took a couple of photos after round one of shoveling in the morning, and then, because it was snowing so hard, I had the bright idea to take photos of the same thing throughout the day.
There was no snow on the patio the day before, but the garden was still under snow. In fact, I haven't seen the little plants in the garden in a few weeks. For all I know, the Snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) might be in bud. The last time I saw them, they had sprouted and, as this photo from December 1st shows, the Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) was starting to bud.
Now they're completely buried. It'll be a long time before I see any blooms outside again. Have you had any snow lately?