Our First Big Snowstorm of the Year

The day before our first big snowstorm of the 2018/2019 season, we experienced a full day of freezing rain. As a result, the snow that had fallen stuck to the trees very nicely. This was the perfect formula for great photography, but not so much for the trees. Especially not our white birch trees. They transformed into bent arches all over the yard. We shook as much of the snow off the birches as we could, but the ice layer had prevented a full recovery. There was also about a foot and a half of snow on the ground and with a combination of the frigid cold and another big storm coming, the snow isn’t going to be disappearing anytime soon. I captured the following photographs at different times throughout the day. Some of the photographs were taken from around the house, our road and back in the woods, behind the house. I will also share photographs from the day after this snowstorm in my next post. Winter has definitely made its appearance and I don’t think it will be over any time soon.

Snow falling early in the day.

The backyard covered under a blanket of snow.

Our small apple tree ((Malus pumila) in the front of the house.

The white birch trees (Betula papyrifera) bending under the weight of the ice and snow.

Snow covered country road.

The freshly snow-blown driveway.

Snow covered birch branches.

Snow covered trees near the stream.

Our poor blueberry bush (Vaccinium) flattened by the snow. No worries though, this happens every winter and in the summer the bush will provide a good yield.

Snow covered apple trees.

Bent white birch trees over the pond.

Catkins covered in ice and snow.

A snowy trail in the woods.

Snow covered bent tree branches.

Winter beech leaves (Fagus).

Snow covered trees trunks in the woods.

Ice and snow covered red sumac berries (Rhus).

Another view of snow-covered apple trees.

Bent white birches almost touching the ground.