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The title says it all. Still in Salt Lake City, Utah on business I have witnessed the early arrival of what should prove to be a very profitable Winter for the Utah Ski Resorts. What started off last week with light flurries and something more akin to sleet than snow, has turned to the large, dream-like flakes of my childhood Christmas seasons. My 2 _ year old son, Joseph, clearly enjoyed his first experience with falling snow (he played with some snow on top of Mt. Etna in Sicily back in May) but his mother may have a different opinion of the snow. She was forced to work out in the cold the entire week. Of course, I am the one who sits here now with a fever and chest cough. How did that happen?

Wait, wait, wait

One of the oddest sights here is the trees, many still carrying the majority of their leaves, covered in 5-6 inches of snow. According to my sources here, Winter arrived very early this year. Major snow like we have seen doesn’t normally arrive until late December or even January. This, combined with the fact that the temperatures have not dropped significantly, seemed to fool the trees into thinking they had a few more weeks left to drop their leaves. I can imagine the combination of wet leaves and heavy snow is putting quite a burden on the limbs of these trees and it wouldn’t surprise me to see quite a few broken limbs as the Winter progresses. I hope anyone with special trees in their yard takes a few moments to knock off the snow before they are damaged too badly.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…then go home

This is the most snow I have seen since I left northern Ohio almost 15 years ago. It gives me such a sense of closure to the year that it will be a little difficult to return to Los Angeles and start working in the garden again. I almost expect to find my garden all "put to bed" for the Winter when I arrive. Of course, snow is often more enjoyable when you know that you don’t have to spend the rest of the Winter in it.

Reports from LA have told me that it is cool and rainy, much like our Winter’s always are. This helps to cut down on maintenance work, but I have to keep an eye out for those dry periods when I can pick up leaves, trim the roses, dig out weeds and generally try and keep things neat and tidy. The rains always cause a boom in the amount of weeds everywhere…in the beds, in the paths, in the cracks of the driveway, etc. You would think that the lessening hours of sunlight would keep them in control, but no such luck.

Next week, I will be back in LA. I will give you all a report on how the garden has fared in the hands of our housesitter. She did a wonderful job while we were away in Europe for 3 weeks so I really don’t have any worries. Of course, now I have to get over this fever and cold. I have work to do!

Keep digging!

Douglas

What was happening a year ago (or more) in my garden? November 14, 1999 Wildlife November Sowbugs, Birds and Native Plants

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