When Snow Fell on Alabama

It has all melted now, but I am still remembering our unexpected snowfall that occurred on December 8. Today was rainy and cold, a bit too warm for snow. Later this week we should have spring-like temps around 70 degrees F, so our typical see-saw winter weather has begun. Meanwhile, I have more snowy images to show you. I must take advantage of the opportunity, as the rest of our winter is likely to feature muddy tones of brown and gray. So here they are, as close to a white Christmas as I am likely to get!

Finally, I found this character (a decorative metal bug who has forgotten it is winter) happily playing in the snow in front of the house:

A joyous holiday season and Merry Christmas to you all!  Deb

Seasons Greetings from Alabama! Goodbye Fall, Hello Winter

Less than two weeks ago, brilliant fall colors of Japanese maples and more mellow, antique foliage of other trees and shrubs combined for a beautiful farewell to autumn. I knew winter was coming as aging leaves showered down and the woods took on shades of gray and brown. Earlier this week, I casually listened to weather reports forecasting possible snow. Snow predictions are often overblown here, but this time there wasn't the hysteria of mass school closings and a rush on grocery stores that such reports usually generate. I expected some snow flurries, maybe. We don't get much snow in central Alabama.

Yesterday I was truly surprised when I woke to this scene in the front garden:

Snow was coming down! Before it stopped 12 hours later, Lou measured 6 inches in the flat parking area behind the house. The weather forecasters had misjudged (slightly!) the amount we would get. 

I thought it would be interesting to compare images taken on November 28 to those I took yesterday. What a difference 10 days make! Do you prefer the fall or winter images? Photos in each set were taken in the same general location:

'Feelin' Blue' Deodar Cedar with Japanese maple 'Orido Nishiki' in the background.

The blue bridge in the woodland garden:

Views of the bench in the woodlands:

A side path in the woodland garden:

Woodland rabbit viewing the garden:

Looking toward the edge of the woodland garden:

The "sitting rock" in the woodland garden:

A birdbath in front of the house:

Finally, some images of a couple of birdhouses:

Our snow will be gone by tomorrow afternoon. I don't have to deal with it all winter, so I can enjoy the wonderment of it as a delightful change of scenery. And I have more snow pictures! Coming soon in my next post...