Igor - Typically that is what it is like here. Over the last 30 years, winter has gotten 4 weeks shorter (2 weeks earlier spring, and 2 weeks later fall on average). When I was a kid, november was cold, and we always had snow. When I was really young, the first halloween I remember we had tons of snow. As I got older we got less snow that time of year, and when we did it melts. The older I got the later the snow fell, and the more it melted.

Now, if it snows in mid december it tends to stay, but the 3/5 previous winters, we had slush and above freezing temps the week of christmas. On the other hand, there has only been one winter with under a foot of snow, and that was 2 winters ago, when we got less then an inch all winter. Usually by mid January we have at least a foot or more (and when I was a kid, there would be so much snow in hards it would get to my chin!)

I dont care what some people say, the climate is weird up here and more then likely changing. Whether that is a long term change, or a short term cycle, I have no idea.

What I like in our winter most of all - once the snow has fallen down it's never melt away until beginning of March. It's accumulating only from snowfall to snowfall. That's why the snow is a great insulation in my place.

This is what I need! Unfortunately last winter we got -30C almost without snow. That's the worst thing: no snow cover for plants.

Brrrrr...... :verycold:

That's the worst thing: no snow cover for plants.

That's for sure!
One winter without snow even damaged my y.filamentosa leaves and I thought they were bulletproof.

Snow is good too for keeping palm protection attached to the ground 😆 in windstorms.

Good to learn your GH can take the weight, Igor.

Barb

Im agree with canadianplant..samething here near Montreal..the weather is changing...but we still have near 1-2 feets of snow every winter but for 3 months instead of 4.
Good luck Igor, but snow give the best insulation. We had that kind of heavy snow in 2007-2008...at least 3 feets depth everywhere.
Ben

I use the snow to insulate my borderline plants, especially the bamboo, which i bend to the ground. If we have a 'normal' winter it works really well. However, if we have little snow the plants are left exposed and there will be extensive damage.

I should say as well, that if we have a winter like 2011/12 (i.e. a non-winter, which for me is a zone 6 winter) there will be little damage on anything that I grow!

if we have little snow the plants are left exposed and there will be extensive damage.

I should say as well, that if we have a winter like 2011/12 (i.e. a non-winter, which for me is a zone 6 winter) there will be little damage on anything that I grow!

Your bamboo is so nice, certainly worth wrapping 😉

Yesterday you folks broke the Canadian record for warmth!
Imagine! In December!
:compress:

Barb

Some year 2012 first snow statistics; we have got 78 cm of snow since December the 1st while there was 100 cm of snow registered for the winter 2011-2012.

Some year 2012 first snow statistics; we have got 78 cm of snow since December the 1st while there was 100 cm of snow registered for the winter 2011-2012.

78... like seventy eight in the beginning of winter? 😯 Nice one!

we have got 78 cm of snow since December the 1st while there was 100 cm of snow registered for the winter 2011-2012

Your plants will be snug and warm for sure.
The only good thing... 😐

Barb

It is soooooo pretty:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272057679/" title="003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="003"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272055151/" title="005 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="005"></a>

Hopefully this meagre protection will get the 3 y.rostrata through winter:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272058965/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="002"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272051925/" title="007 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="007"></a>

Good-bye to dog poop until spring! :glasses8:

Barb

Looking X-Mas... sy.

Hopefully this meagre protection will get the 3 y.rostrata through winter:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272058965/" title="002 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="002"></a>

Barb

It will. 😉

yes the snow looks great for xmas!

Thanks for the reassurance, Aaron, that the yuccas will make it 😀

Sorry for those crappy photos...taken at dawn. 😕
Better pics:

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8272649139/" title="010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="010"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8273713908/" title="012 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="012"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8273715226/" title="011 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="480" height="640" alt="011"></a>

<a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/8273711488/" title="009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src=" " width="640" height="480" alt="009"></a>

Barb