BELMONT, N.Y. — Back in the day, when snow was our constant winter companion, I returned to Allegany County and bought 20 acres atop a hill. The 10 acres on the north side was a deciduous woods, some trees 100 years old. The Cornell boys had edged the southern part with Norway spruce 15 years before and they stood 20 feet high. To the south lay the swale, a damp meadow, open to the west and southwest winds. Come January, the snow had drifted 12 feet deep in the spruce! Hard-packed, the cat could run right up to the top as if it were rock!
For plants, snow is a blessing – it covers and protects, offering protection from the bitter cold and the wind. The house is a good 100 feet from the road. Shoveling out used to be a constant chore in the winter. About 8 years ago I retired my snow shovel (most of the time.) Now I sweep a path. Half the winter these days are brown and drab, no sparking snow to cover and protect our plants.
In its place has come the freezing rain events. These are much more dangerous to humans and plants than snow. The disastrous freezing rain in the spring of 1991 took down many of my beech and pine trees. We were out of electricity for 5 ½ days. I sure was glad of my woodstove and that in March we had 14 hours of light. We all – not just gardeners – should appreciate the benefits of snow and lament its loss.
–M.L. Wells, Master Gardener
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County
For more articles out of New York, click here.