Because so much insulating snow came down early in November and piled up repeatedly throughout winter . . . soil frost depth is minimal at this time. With all the moisture in the ground, it should be a good year for wildflowers!
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
4/02/2023
blizzard and frost depth
Another 10 inches of snow! And blizzard winds. The birds that ventured out of their shelters for food had to contend with lousy weather. This female Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis was windblown and swinging while eating safflower seeds from the hanging tray feeder.
11/14/2022
ice stars
'Ice stars' or 'Lake stars' develop under very specific early winter conditions.
First, a cold snap that freezes the pond ice an inch or two thick, followed by warmer days that bump the ice temperature above 32F. Pores form in the ice sheet where there are any imperfections in the water surface (plant matter, logs). Then, some snow falls with a cold front blowing in. Warm water wells up from beneath the thin layer of ice, covered with a coating of snow and slush. Temperature and precipitation have to be perfect for this to happen.
5/18/2022
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)