Heeheeheee, we did rather get off topic, huh? Sorry about that! Happy, thank you for all your clarifications and info; I'm sure I have a different version of Word, but not sure which one. I have questions, but I'll take 'em to D-mail. :)
It's lookin' like we'll have a very precipitous next few days ahead of us down this way. Temps between ~25 and ~47, with rain, freezing rain, ice pellets, and snow on the menu through Wednesday. Some of those days include SW or SE winds, which usually means it'll be worse than predicted. This should be interesting! Wish I could send this precip. to California!!
Weather watching Jan 2014 Snow
Still off topic - Gita, it sounds like the time stamp issue you are seeing is your DG "Time Zone" preference setting since your computer's actual time setting is correct. Pick Preferences from the DG tool bar at the top of your screen and look for "What TimeZone are you in?". The logical choices for our area are either Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Team. Mine is set for Eastern Standard Time and shows the correct time.
Back on topic - Poo on the precipitation prediction. It is my turn in the carpool to drive to work this week. I'll have to try to convince him to drive instead of me. The older I get, the more tense I get driving in those conditions.
Aspenhill -- I don't think it is that you are getting older - gardening definitely makes you younger. I think you are getting wiser about how poorly other people drive in the snow. Even if you are an experienced driver in snowy/icy conditions, it is really dangerous to drive in those conditions because you just don't know what the guy near to you is going to do.
I'm going to have to agree with Happy; you are definitely getting wiser to the ways others drive in the yuck. In icky weather, there is a certain amount of "slow-down" that needs to happen... many don't believe in the slow-down method though. Also, there is a certain amount of "back-off" that needs to happen as well... too many drivers appear to believe that, unless they are 3 inches from the bumper of the driver in front of them, their car will instantly die. It's not true, don't believe the lies!!! If you allow a safe distance between your front bumper and the back bumper of the guy in front of you, your car will not die!!!
...And then there's the "4WD makes me invincible on ice!" myth... we won't even get into those drivers! < =P
Yep, all it means is that you, Terri, are smarter than all the other drivers around you! < =D
As for what the weather is currently doing down this-a-way... it's raining. We're supposed to get snow and ice early this afternoon, but gosh it's warm! (relatively speaking)... Will just have to wait to see what The Big Guy Upstairs has to say about it. =)
Good news - I didn't encounter any snow on the way in to work this morning, even starting from home NW of the city (Loudoun County). Last night, weather forecasts were for snow in Loudoun with warmer temps and rain as you moved closer in to DC. Rain all the way as I left at 04:30. Although it is still very unpleasant driving in the rain in the dark (I can't seem to see the highway lane markings), it is much better than snow or ice!
We have snow and from the sounds of it we are going to get a lot of it.
Funny Terri, you talking about not wanting to drive in the snow. I'm a great snow driver, always went into to work no matter the weather, I had a good 1/2 hour drive in good weather. (I know nothing like your terrible long drive) I was the Mom that would drive around and pick up all the kids on snow days and take them to Ski Round Top or the Skating Ring. Now I just look out there and think "No place I really need to go". Even if I have an appt for something I figure I can always reschedule. I'm not afraid to drive in bad weather just don't feel the need, too.
Holly: It is drivers like you that make the rest of us safe. Too many people packing onto the roads in a snow storm is a prescription for multiple accidents!
I heard that the number of accidents in Atlanta last week in the icy weather was over 1200. Even SC had several hundred. Folks over-think their driving and vehicle abilities.
NOW the snow is coming down in BIG flakes
Still just rain on top of frozen ground here.
We are getting some serious snow here but it sure is pretty.
Report on HERE--East Baltimore County near I-95 Exit 67.
In the morning--it was all rain--and, judging from the massive puddles
in my back yard, It must have rained most of the night,
Around 11Am+--there were tiny sleet-like flakes coming down which
changed to big snow flakes--but only briefly. Then--more drizzle....
1PM--it is snowing--but sparsley. Nothing is laying yet--just on the grass...
All roads are just wet. I don't think the temps are at freezing here yet...
That's all I can tell you as of now...Stay warm! Stay safe! and drive carefully....
Gita
Regarding the recent snowstorms in the South and the terrible driving conditions, you may enjoy this post from Southern Living's Grumpy Gardener. I certainly had a giggle:
http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2014/01/30/take-no-prisoners-driving-in-snow-for-idiots/
Cute, typwc.
Looks like we will have a break for a few days, rain instead of snow that will be back by the end of the week.
My favorite, from a fellow landscape architect in Atlanta...
Haahaahaaa Typ, that article by Grumpy Gardener was wonderful!! I love how he addresses "Idiots, Morons, and Various Cretins"!! LOL LOL!!!!!!
We never got anything but rain down this way, which started to dwindle away around 1:00, then got windy. I can dig it! ;)
Nothing new here either--since my 1PM report. No rain.no snow--nothing.
Went out to get the mail-it was, actually, pretty mild....
Have to chuckle a bit--as Sunday, there was a slight panic for salt and snow shovels--
We--and all the other stores around--had NO Ice Melt. We sold through about 3 palates
of Solar Salt on Sunday--which is a water softener salt...Oh, well--salt it salt...
Wish people would think ahead and have all these things already bought.
Yes! There will be some snow and ice at some point--be prepared!
G.
Well--they HAD predicted up to 8"...can't blame them....
Viburnum Valley, that's hilarious! :D
Hope all of those hit with the ICE part of our areas latest winter storm are safe and warm and with power or will be soon. Ric and Holly, Sequoia,Donner, Roses, Gardadore, Doc, Jen, Jan. Gardenquilts, Sissystars, Button and Bobbin, Greenthum and Pat, Aspenhill, Darius, Ruby and John and many others Judy
Judy, we've been missing you over on the "Coffee" thread...
Safe, and still with power here (mostly), but covered in house-bound boredom!
Yes, I second what Judy said. Y'all be safe please!!
YAHOOOOO! We just got our power back, are safe and fine and I'm going to take a much needed shower before it quits.
Woohoo!!!
Wheeeee!!!!! Welcome back Ric... and thanks for showering. ;) heeheeheeheee Holly OK too?
glad you guys are getting your power back up and running. we just had some major pine tree branches break before the ice melted. From various trees, not even from all the same tree. With snow still on the ground, we're just leaving the fallen limbs until who knows when...
One branch crashed along a post with our wildlife sign and took down a hanging pot with it. Pine branches are the worst to trim since they are full of sap.
I just ordered some plants and seeds. thinking spring!! and so far no flurries here yet as they are calling for
we had a visit from a flock of Robins the other day. they feasted on holly berries from a huge tree that was loaded with them
NOOOO!!! I was sand-bagging seeds for cold moist stratification and thinking nice Spring-y thoughts when I looked up and saw snow....coming down harder now....and sticking.
Whew! It stopped.
This message was edited Feb 9, 2014 6:42 PM
We lost some tree branches, too. Looks like a pretty big one on the Norway Spruce, couple of big ones from the White Pine but that isn't much of a loss. It should have been taken down years ago, so I am not concerned with that.
We survived without power pretty well. That coal stove keeps us warm provides hot water and hot food. We are pretty good at camping out. Heated snow to make water to flush the toilet. The gas heater in the GH doesn't need electric to run. Ric and I played quite a few hands of cards. We did miss the Olympic opening ceremonies.
Holly---PLEASE see if you can find a way to watch them on your Computer.
There have to be some way...They were AWESOME in their own way!
SO interesting with all kinds of projections on the floor---very touching--very serious
in a spectacular way--IF you know something of the past history of Russia.
Hope you get to watch it somewhere...somwhow....
G.
I will try to check it out again Gita. Thanks
Here is the White Birch bent over top touching the ground.
Wind, that's a fantastic photo of the robins eating the berries.
Holly, sorry to hear about your trees! Sounds like quite a mess to clean up.
Wind: I also think those are great photos! Our nextdoor neighbors have a holly tree that gets swarmed by robins at about this time of year also. It was funny that last year there was this poor mockingbird trying to keep the tree all to himself, while hundreds of robins kept swooping in. The mockingbird would chase one robin away, and then 2-3 other robins would take his spot. Poor guy, almost felt bad for him, but there were plenty of berries for everyone!
On the other hand, I have a Winter King Hawthorne in my front yard that I have been known to chase robins out of until after Christmas. All I ask is that they leave the pretty red berries till Dec 26.... Why can't the robins just check the calendar before they try to eat my hawthorne berries? ;)
wow Holly, that is a dramatic photo!! Harry said we have a chance of 12 inches coming Wed night into Thursday. My oh my. I have to tune in to the details and verify. Our driveway is still a mess from the last snow. Harry was sick and we didn't clear the snow out and it has stayed frozen with tire tracks in it. When I drive out (or glide out) every morning I feel like I'm in an Olympic event lol
typwc, I'm not sure what a Winter King Hawthorne looks like. I like it already if the birds like the berries. Will look it up
Wind, your robin pics are FANTASTIC!!! I really love the last one, little robin with his mouth wide open; "Look, see what I've got!!" < =D
Holly, OH MY, your poor Birch!!!! Gosh I hope it is able to recover when everything thaws out!!
Karen, LOL!! Maybe you could hang a little calendar out there on your Hawthorn for the birdies to see... and mark each day for them as well. ;) Heeheeheee
I didn't know Robins ate holly berries- That is cute, Diana!
I have a Burford holly- nothing ever seems to eat those berries. I am not sure if I'm happy or sad about that.
My dogwood tree in front, usually is full of red berries that get wiped out early in winter by the birds THis year, many of the berries turned black and shrivelly, and they are still there.
Just looked at our Thursday forecast. snow snow snow
Totally deviating from the topic, sorry!
Here you go, Wind:
http://extension.psu.edu/dauphin/news/2012/tree-of-the-month-winter-king-hawthorn-crataegus-viridis
Here is the blog post that ultimately sold me on the tree: http://behnkes.com/website/gardening-articles/shrubs-trees-a-vines/335-the-king-of-winter.html
I can't say I would really recommend the tree. It may just be that I got a dud. Mine has a rust disease so it needs to be sprayed with fungicide. While the tree is small, it's not such a big deal. We will have to remove the tree when it becomes too large to spray. If not sprayed, the leaves get big orange spots on them and there are fewer fruits that have blemishes on them. The irritating thing is that this variety is supposedly resistant to cedar-apple rust. Like I said, maybe I just got a dud. I guess the birds and the bees don't mind if there's rust, but the tree doesn't put out as many flowers/berries if it's diseased.
I wanted something with 4 season interest, different from my neighbors, relatively small, urban tolerant, not messy. Tall order! Not many trees can do that. Here's 3 different seasons. I have a fourth picture from fall but the picture won't load.
But you just can't deny that it is still in the Rosaceae family, and subject to a lot of the same problems that affect apples and cherries.
Anyway, back to the topic. Snow again tomorrow night!?
That center pic of your summer entrance is just lovely.
'Winter King' Hawthorn is an exceptional tree that will do all the exciting things it is cracked up to do - it just won't do them everywhere it happens to be planted.
This plant - like many other Rosaceae members - will experience foliar pathogens if planted in conditions favoring the pathogen's growth. Put this plant in a parking lot traffic island, or in a 4'x4' sidewalk cutout, where it has hot dry conditions that many fungi detest, and it performs like a champ. Put it in site (such as shown above) where it likely receives ample moisture at the times that will cause foliar pathogens to thrive, and you will get exactly what has been described.
When I'm next near my digital files, I'll post some images of how well 'Winter King' will do with next to no assistance. Out of the dozens of sites I can think of, there are two very nearby in Georgetown KY - the Kohl's parking lot and the Tractor Supply parking lot. I will try to drive by and get some current winter shots of them. They are probably still loaded down with colorful orangey red fruit and that dazzlingly silver flaking bark.
Not knowing what is planted in neighbors' yard, but the described interest would lead me to suggest one of the twenty or so Flowering Crabapples that are highly disease resistant (MD Cooperative Extension Service likely has a "favored" list), or some lowly Viburnum...
It was 5ºF here this morning, and ice/snow still won't be melted before next week with the forecast.
What is the summer humidity like where you are, ViburnumValley? Thank you for your insight.
I don't ever water the foliage on my hawthorne and it is in a very hot urban spot. It gets rain, obviously. The sun beats off the west-facing brick and the road in front of my house and fries whatever's in the middle. I will attest to the fact that MD is super-humid, so it's a fungal happy place. But I thought the rest of the South was pretty much the same? I firmly believe this tree came to me already sick, but I didn't know what the symptoms of the disease were till it was in my yard. Now that it is diseased, there's no "curing" it. 'Winter King' is on the list of trees to plant according to the MD Extension Service.
Wind, I guess what I'm really trying to say is that I present to you a good reminder that resistant isn't the same as immune.
I think I'm going to either plant a Japanese Maple or a 'Natchez' Crepe Myrtle there next. Neighbors all have sickly old dogwoods. I have no Viburnums in my yard yet, but I am looking out for Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora'.
Thanks, Holly!
Typwc, I printed out the info on the hawthorn because it sounded so great, so I really appreciate your report on how it doesn't do so well in your yard ! The 90+ degrees, 90+ humidity we sometimes (often?) get in the summer is a great disease incubator.
VV, does Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' need a pollinator to fruit well?