Pinwheel update: the posts are in for good, short of a hurricane

For those keeping track, I have had three sessions with my welding guru to work on the moose pinwheels.  I never dreamed when I came up with the concept that it would take so darn long and require so much effort.  The rebar posts have finally been installed, with the aid of an Eagle scout, an engineer, and a laborer.  Luckily, I am married to him and he had no choice. 

Additonal aid rendered by an ax, a hammer, a log (don't ask), a ladder, a post-hole digger, and a few choice phrases I will not repeat here.  You'd think after all this I was laying the foundation for the Sistine Chapel or something.  This is all I did:

Yup, that's it.  I have two more pinwheels to make.  After a couple of coats of epoxy on the pinwheel edges (to prevent any visitors from getting maimed on a windy day), I can move on to my next project.  And my welding wish finally came true: I did get to don the leather chap/apron (and strike a Charlie's Angels pose) at my latest welding session.   

Frosty day

It was a wee bit chilly today.  Gloves and scarf weather, most definitely.  The hops vine was withered, crackly moose fodder (above).  The water has frozen solid in the rain chain (pictured below), much to the disappointment of the kids, who love to swing it around and empty the water out.  How does 20 degrees Fahrenheit sound?  Depends on what part of Alaska you call home.  Today that might seem cold for Juneau and warm for Fairbanks, but for me in Anchorage this morning, it sounded like reality.  Each degree of temperature lost becomes precious at a certain point and we are certainly at that point. 

Finding a silver lining in every (snow) cloud is important at this time of decreasing daylight hours and temperatures.  How about the lovely hoar frost on all the plants (pictured on Pinus mugo, below) this morning?  No?  Then perhaps this: at least I don't have to mow the lawn for another 7 months.  

"The snow is here!!"

For those of you that have seen the animated movie, "The Secret of NIMH," just substitute the word "snow" in the place of "plow" when Auntie Shrew is screeching "The plow is here!"  That's a bit how I feel today.  Yes, winter is truly here now.  Yesterday snow was on the mountains and the upper hillside.

Today, it's everywhere, and still coming down.  Even though it is still pretty dark at 9am at this time of year, I grabbed the camera to document the first dusting of the season (pictured on Bergenia).

If you will recall, after Auntie Shrew made the raucous proclamation mentioned above, pandemonium ensued.  Small animals were racing away from the plow as fast as they could.  It was a fearful, hysterical scene.  For those that haven't seen the movie, the animals are portrayed as quite intelligent little things, some with the intelligence of humans. They knew the farmer would plow the field in the fall, just like every year.  But most made no plans about it until the plow was bearing down on them. (Achillea 'Terracotta' pictured)

                                    

A bit like many Alaskans.  The snows come, and we know they will, just like every year.  We wait and wait until the bitter end (of autumn) to do those things that need doing before the snow flies.  For example, change out summer tires to snow tires.  Nope, I haven't done it yet either.  There is a considerable line at the tire changeover place (pictured below), and it's only going to get longer. 

We haven't gotten back our "driving-in-snow-legs" yet (a bit like sea legs, but you get the idea), they seem to take a few snows to kick in .  The sirens were wailing several times this morning.  Folks didn't slow down for the slick conditions, I suppose.  At the onset of winter, there are always cars in the ditch on the freeway.  We just aren't ready for the snow, some of us. 

But is the Alaskan gardener ready for the snow?  I find the first snows to be very beautiful in the garden, highlighting form and texture in a delicate way.  And hiding the tarp.  For gardeners, as always the proof is in the pudding.  How does your design hold up in winter?  Does your garden still capture your interest at a glance?  If the answer is in question, stay tuned for some winter design ideas coming soon....