February Snow Feb 20, 2020 5:18pm
February’s weather is reliably unpredictable and often messy. This past week is typical. There were a few bright sunny mornings but the sun was inconstant. What might have seemed reasonably warm temperatures were made bone-chilling by shifts to dull gray skies that released a see-saw of downpours and drizzle, culminating in a sloppy, wet snow yesterday (Thursday). The snow began falling mid-afternoon and I ventured outside just before dark.
Spirea branches, already in bloom, were covered in icy snow and dipping downward. Tucked deep underneath the shrub, groups of hellebores found some protection.
Hellebores beneath Spiraea prunifolia (bridal wreath spiraea)
Narcissus have been blooming several weeks.
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
The advanced growth of foliage on this patch of iris surprised me.
February Snow -Iris
Despite the curious common name of summer snowflakes, Leucojum aestivum began blooming this week in time for the snow. It is normal for these to appear this time of year. These came from my sisters’ garden about 5 years ago.
February Snow -Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
Snowfall ended by midnight. The sun shone brightly this morning revealing icy snow high in tree tops and a rich blue sky.
Around 8:30 a.m. a cold breeze stirred the chimes in the meditation circle, making the garden sing against the otherwise quiet hour. Birds were sheltered inside the large drooping spirea whose weighted branches touched the earth, forming a protective avian hideaway. They perched also in nearby trees, all waiting for me to finish taking pictures so they could resume visits to the freshly stocked feeder.
Meditation Circle Feb 21, 2020 8:30am
Much of the snow had disappeared by late afternoon and it is expected to be 61°F. Sunday.
A few days earlier, at eventide on Tuesday, I had braved the rain-saturated ground to walk the garden. Here are a few images from before the snow. This Iberis is such a delight.
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ (Tete-a-Tete Daffodil)
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
pbmGarden 
beautiful photos!
Thanks. It was actively snowing when I took the first group of pictures and hard to focus.
well you did a very lovely job.
Flowers are amazingly resilient aren’t they, they can cope with all that the weather throws at them. Snow makes the garden look so different for a short time, we haven’t had any here yet, but there is plenty of time!
It is interesting to see the highlights that snow brings to the garden Pauline. The daffodils especially look flattened. Hope they recover.
Snow! Gosh I had forgotten what it looks like. Phew!
Guess I wasn’t in the mood for snow but at least we didn’t get snowed in yesterday. I was able to teach my yoga class and we kept power throughout.
I am never in the mood for snow tbh
I love my yoga and am v impressed you teach
Yoga has helped me through some challenging times. hadn’t planned to teach when I went through training—just wanted to learn more, but once I got into it I discovered I enjoyed teaching. I teach a gentle, meditative style, including a mindfulness meditation practice after savasana. 🧘♀️
Sounds blissful. I have been practicing since my first classes when I was 17. I swear by it. My mum may not do a class anymore but still will take herself off for a stretch and she’s an octogenarian.
Lovely. Great inspiration.
Lovely! I see the fencing in your yard so gather you don’t have to deal with deer.
The deer were in my yard feeding from the bird feeder until we installed the fence. Deer could easily jump it but it’s as tall as our POA allows and it has effectively deterred the deer.
Beautiful photos before and after. 27°F this morning in Murrells Inlet, SC. I’m going to have to break out the NH outerwear today. 🙂
Glad you hadn’t just counted on shorts and a bathing suit Judy! It’s supposed to warm up here during daytime at least. 🏖
I love snow pictures, but spring snow is always so heavy. It looks like your plants will survive.
This snow was mostly a blip in our advance toward spring, although it’s still hanging around because it has been cold overnight. Should clear soon.
A nice little treat to see everything in snow, especially when most of it melts by the next day and doesn’t cause too many inconveniences. Sounds like you made the best of it!
Snow ❄️ gives us a clean fresh look usually. This one wasn’t so lovely but time to move on towards spring.
That’s a true weather whiplash! I hope the snow didn’t cause any permanent damage to your beautiful bulb blooms. We were hopeful of rain last night into this afternoon but it looks as though we’re going to get zilch; however, my friend about 50 miles north just let me know she’s getting hit with hail.
Hail? Goodness. Well if I could share some rain with you I would Kris.
I think I have the Southern attitude towards snow – yuck and run to the grocery for bread and milk – but, there is nothing like the hush over the landscape provided by a blanket of snow. And your bulb photos are fabulous!
Thanks. Yes. That hush is magical. It makes time stop.
A spring surprise from Mother Nature! I hope your plants came through okay, it’d be a shame to lose those lovely blossoms.
Thanks Eliza. Daffodils look pretty saggy but I’ll try to rescue a few.
Goodness! I forget that it is still winter. We have been without rain for a month, and none is forecast. February may be completely dry right to the end.
Snowflake is cool. I grow it instead of snowdrop. (I do not understand the allure of snowdrop.)
Wish I could send our rain over to West coast for a few days.
Reservoirs have enough water stored. We technically do not nee any more rain. I just miss it. It only happens for a few short months, so we enjoy it while we can. There happened to be a brief but heavy rainstorm in the Los Angeles region yesterday. Those are rad.
That geranium really is sort of a weed. Fortunately, it is not too aggressive.
Oops, that was a reply to something else.
Brrr. Hope it has disappeared by now Susie. It looks really icy. Our February has been ‘mild’, that is above freezing point most of the month, so the garden is slowly waking up here too. The narcissi look so pretty with a dusting of snow. 😃
Thanks Cathy. Very cold this morning but snow should finally melt today if we reach predicted 60 degrees. Glad you’ve had a mild February.
Your February is like our March and April, which makes sense, I guess. Your photos are so beautiful–both the snowy photos and the colorful blooms. Enjoy the warm days ahead!
Thanks Beth. A few more cold days in the forecast then nearly 70 next week. Inching toward spring.
I always find it dispiriting to see snow on spring bulbs in bloom. Hope your snow melts quickly.
I agree. Many of the daffodils have not really recovered from the snow and are just flattened. I have brought inside quite a few though they last much better outside under better circumstances.