fell victim to the ice. When I went out this morning I took some photos, and hoped the river birch would survive the storm.
First glimpse of the storm outside the bedroom window this morning, the bare lilac shrubs.
When I got out to the living room, I decided to snap more photos from the slick front deck:
Looking west from the living room porch to the ice encrusted trees in the hedgerow–beautiful.
Next to the deck, the junipers were covered in frozen drips….
As were the boards in the siding. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something quite like this. This is outside the dining room, facing north–the direction of the weather.
Another shrub bearing “ice berries”, beautiful, but hope it won’t kill the shrub. We have bitter cold coming (again) so no chance of a melt-off any time soon.
That glassy surface in front of the garage is ICE, not water. We didn’t leave the property today. Paul walked the dog–with ice cleats on his shoes and itty bitty baby steps at that. He said on the lower part of the driveway two trees are blocking the drive, completely bent over from the ice. Tomorrow I need to grocery shop for Christmas, so we will see what happens….
And this is our glorious river birch. I so love the lacy beauty of this tree in summer, the beautiful bark…I had hoped it would survive the storm given how far the top was drooping over (the lowest dangling branches are usually about 4 feet above ground), but things got worse.
On the left of the pine, the side facing the oncoming freezing rain, you can see how the branches are laden with ice and sagging compared to the protected side on the right.
SOB! ALL THREE of the leaders, the trunks of the tree, have snapped. Sigh and sob and sniff. The Asst. Wrestling Coach with whom Paul has worked for the past five years has a tree business, so we are hoping he can come by this week and prune off the broken bits and maybe we can save the tree. I hope. Sniff.
And I really hope that no one gets badly hurt driving in this nonsense. I will venture forth tomorrow, and then probably stay home until Thursday!
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December 22nd, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I have been following your blog for a few weeks and I have been fascinated with the scenery where you live. I enjoy the pictures very much. I live in Florida where it is was an unseasonable 82 degrees today. I have enjoyed all of the photos and the general content on your blog. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Sorry to hear about the birch. It did look pretty with all the ice but too much ice is a bad thing in this case.
Kathleen
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Oh Sarah! Poor birch… That’s a heartbreaker! I’ve been thinking of you all day! It looks as if you’ve gotten the worst of it… Only drizzle here. Too warm for freezing rain although that may change tonight. Be safe tomorrow as you run those errands!
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Oh no. So sorry about the birch. More importantly, y’all stay safe. PBJ sandwiches cut out with Christmas cookie cutters or something like that will work for dinner until you can get out safely. 😉
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Oh so sorry about your birch tree, I do hope you can save it. I wondered if you were getting the ice storm, so now I know. The pictures are quite beautiful. Hope you have safe travels tomorrow. Maybe actual winter will not be as bad as the last month has been for you.
Merry Christmas.
December 23rd, 2013 at 10:35 am
Such beautiful photos, but so sad about the beech. Stay safe and warm.
December 23rd, 2013 at 11:53 am
Beautiful pictures