Images of the arty kind

[Paddy Tobin]

Goodness, Roma, was it positioned under a dripping pipe or something?

Paddy

[ranunculus]

From sunnier times ... Platanthera bifolia.

[mark smyth]

If that was my plant, Roma, I would bring it inside so the ice melts and put it out again

[Roma]

Yes Paddy the Acer sits on the doorstep and the gutter is dripping right on it.  The gutters should have been cleaned once the larch needles had finished falling but neither of us are able to climb ladders just now and the needles had barely finished falling when the snow came.

Mark, it might have been possible to move the pot a few days ago but it is now encased in ice.  I am still hobbling around on elbow crutches and my husband would not think moving a pot a priority when he's struggling taking in coal and firewood and getting to the village for shopping.  Luckily he has a 4w drive pickup or we'd be stranded.

Second picture view from the front doorstep

[angie]

Hi Roma

Hope you Acer will be ok. My gutters had no needles or anything else in them and mine are the same. The back door has huge icicles hanging from them and the plastic guttering has given way. At least we have had no more snow today.
Remember once the you are up to it come over for tea and a nice big piece of cake.
How are the horses ?
Hope to see you soon.

Angie

[Paddy Tobin]

Quite a waterfall, Roma. My gutters are full, full of ice.

Paddy

[arilnut]

Hi Roma. Leave it like it is. the ice is actually insulating it from any colder temperatures.
It will also moderate the temp change as it thaws so it wont go from say -5 to + 10
fast on a warm day.

John B

My Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' sitting in its pot on the front doorstep.  Will it survive?

[Lesley Cox]

I agree Roma. At most I'd carefully break off some of the stalactites in order to lessen the weight and perhaps pervent stems breaking.

Our Central Otago orchardists who frequently get hard frosts during blossom time, have permanently installed overhead hoses and these are turned on to spray the flowers, so encasing them in solid ice, as you said Nicole. The ice gradually melts as the sum warms up leaving the flowers ready for pollination.

[cohan]

its been done here on frosty early mornings in the vegetable garden as well (not by me, i haven't had occasion, but i remember my aunt doing it when i was young..i probably wouldn't be out of bed at the right hour...lol) ..

[cohan]

i said i was going back to summer pics, and i am, but a few more winter shots  
from today on the acreage..
only number 3 is altered beyond a little sharpening...
album here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cactuscactus/December042010Home#

[ranunculus]

From warmer times ...

Pulsatilla vernalis, Switzerland.

[arillady]

A shot of the sunset on my way from Keyneton to Angaston - the flash brought up the roadside grasses well.

[Maren]

That's beautiful, Pat.

[Stephenb]

Yes Paddy the Acer sits on the doorstep and the gutter is dripping right on it.  The gutters should have been cleaned once the larch needles had finished falling but neither of us are able to climb ladders just now and the needles had barely finished falling when the snow came.

I discovered a similar ice covered plant when I came home one cool autumn day some years ago. It was on a Buddleia (not that winter hardy). I had forgotten to turn off the hose pipe, it burst and with the temperature below zero it had sprayed the Buddleia, freezing on contact, for several hours. Although it remained ice-covered for over a week it did recover... 

[cohan]

A shot of the sunset on my way from Keyneton to Angaston - the flash brought up the roadside grasses well.

nice view!