Janet's Garden News

In less than a week our temps have gone from highs of 40's, to a couple of days of 50's, then 60's, a day of high 70's yesterday and today its 81 degrees. Yesterday I was shoveling and spreading out this icy snow from our "glacial" ice packs to help melt it. Last evening it rained which helped melt the ice and cleaned up everything. So we went from winter to almost summer in a few day. Minnesota so often misses out on spring season. Instead of a gradual transition we get a giant leap into hot weather.

Finally temps above freezing. Temps still below freeezing at night but daytime temp 40 degrees yesterday and today. Still have lots of snow {glacial ice packs) but finally have running water in gutters.

So much for our relatively snowless winter. Last weekend we got 11 inches with wind and drifting. Our roof has considerable drifting under eves by front and back doors and drift overhangs on all the roof edges with subsequent icicles and water dams. I got the overhanging drifts off and cleared the gutters on the lower roof so water could drain. It took hours of ladder work and snow shoveling to make room for the ladder too. I hate doing this because of feet of roof damage but another storm was approaching which was to last 3 days with blizzard conditions and lots more snow and TV reporting that we should remover snow 6 feet from edge. So here we are 5 days later after getting a least 14 inches of new snow with wind and drifting again. Today is the 3rd day of the storm and its still snowing- expecting 4 more inches. Have been out shoveling multiple times each day and Jim snowblowing, but it it still accumulating. Drifting on roof as before only more so and icicles. I imagine I will have to clear lower edge of bottom roof again. So much snow and weight up there. When Jim comes home from work today he'll snowblow again. Snow piles along edge of driveway taller than me in some places. Snow thigh deep were I had to walk to brush off bird feeders. Snow depth 1 inch below top of sundial in herb garden. Garden and holy bushes now winterproof with good snow cover needless to say. Hand snoveled large area for Lily to use by back door. To be continued.