Bingo. I woke up this morning and we had a serious case of frost. Every tree, shrub and flower was completely encased in a shroud of crystals. I was almost late for work but I couldn't resist taking a few photos before I left the house.
I'm not sure if any of the flowers will survive such a beating. It was dark already when I got home this evening so I'll need to take a weekend walk and check if any survived.
I expect less hardy individuals like the rudbeckia above, and the mountain bluet will be done. Most certainly the dahlias will need to be dug out this weekend after such a blast. But I'm not so sure about the sea holly and agastache.
These little flowers are so tough, I have a feeling it may take more than a single frost to knock them down.
Although the flowers are beautiful coated in their spiky white coats what I really like looking at is the leaves.
The bergenia leaves already had a red glow to them from the cold temperatures which made them quite pretty but a shimmering coat of ice is spectacular. Lamb's ears, hardy geraniums, ornamental grass and juniper also caught my eye this morning. Each leaf edged in diamond and sparkling in the early morning light.
This time of year is so spectacular with all the blazing colours in the trees, it seems hard to top, but somehow mother nature did.
39 comments:
Oooooo Oh so beautiful. No wonder you had to take photos. I am glad you could share them. It won't be long until we have a hard frost like this no doubt. Tis the season.
Marguerite,
It was so beautiful the other day. You did a great job of capturing the moment, your pictures show all the beauty around us. We are very lucky. The weather has been great and I'm hoping for a nice Halloween night.
Beautiful shots. Yup, it's so cold in the morning and we know Ole Man Winter is on his way (as well as Hurricane Sandy!). But you have to stop and admire the beauty around you.
just catching up with your blog Marguerite, you have/had some beautiful flowers over the last few weeks, frost is beautiful and I love that last photo with the white ground and the one firery tree shining out, Frances
Although it means the end of season, I do love a frost covered garden. You got some lovely shots of your frosty treasures -- especially that rudbeckia!
You've taken such beautiful photos... We have been hit too M. Oh well, it had to come didn't it. Planned on being out in the garden today but it will have to wait till tomorrow. Enjoy the last of it, and I will also.
Gorgeous photos! You're lucky you're just getting the frost now - we hard our first hard frost a month ago! Don't know if Hurricane Sandy is going to get as far north as you.....stay safe and warm!
Lisa, a frost like that just begs for a camera. Wish I could have stayed a half hour more and waited for the sun to really come out and make it sparkle but alas work beckoned.
It is spectacular right now isn't it? Such great weather. Only a few days away now from Halloween - wonder if the kids will stay dry? Anxiously watching the news this evening to see what the next few days will bring but looks like Sandy is completely missing us?
I can definitely feel the cold coming on now - although Sandy might be a direct MISS?! How have we managed to avoid every storm this season, feels like a miracle.
Thanks Frances, that maple really is strutting its stuff this season. I loved the look of it glowing across that expanse of white.
me too Laurrie! I was actually delighted to see everything coated in white. Although a little less enthusiastic scraping it off my car.
Brenda, tomorrow's a garden day here too. Sunshine and a high of 12 I think? I've got one last shot to get some chores done and am so looking forward to it.
Norah, she's headed north but oddly, will be hitting Ontario rather than the maritimes. This storm is taking a crazy track but luckily our house will be just fine. However, flights are another matter. Jody was to fly to Chicago this week - no idea if he'll make it now.
Same here..think it might be the last shot. Garden looks awfully messy right now. 18 here today..imagine that!!Tomorrow..anyone's guess.
Me too, looking forward to it. BIG SMILE.
What you lost to frost you got back through photography. I love these photos.
Thanks Jason, it's nice to be able to look back on the garden months later through the blog. A second way to appreciate it all over again.
The first frost is always a bit sad -- but also so beautiful. I'm so glad that you had a chance to capture these photos; they're wonderful. -Jean
Love your frosty blooms and foliage. Great pictures!! I can watch from afar.....hoping we are free of frost for another couple weeks. (who know though, crazy weather!)
Early frosts can be frustrating but they are so beautiful. I like Jason's attitude about gaining what you lost through photography. Wise words!
Beautiful pictures..... Hmmm, we can only see frost in refrigerator over here.
Hi Marguerite!! When I saw "Murphy's Law" as your title I got a little worried! That looks like quite a heavy frost - we've had just the one frost so far and it was pretty light - no damage done, not that I have a lot of flowers around here.
I think the REAL damage that will be done this week will be from Hurricane Sandy who is supposed to reach us by Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed that she will have weakened tremendously by the time she arrives!
The summer beauties still look so perfect under the cover of frost. Isn't that just the way it goes? Hope you and yours will be safe and well out of Sandy's path.
Your frost photos are excellent! I'm not ready for such cold temperatures but it is coming.
So pretty. We haven't received a frost yet. I live near the shore of Lake Ontario and sometimes my yard never gets hit with a frost. My flowers are still blooming but probably not for much longer.
The biggest weather issue at the moment is rain. We have had 3 days straight of inclement weather and 2 more are forecast. The lawn is muck and my kitchen floor looks the worse for it.
As markers for the falling temperatures, the arrival of frost is always a bit of a sad moment. My annuals all packed it in when we had frost last week. At the same time, frost crystals are magical (as your picture show beautifully). These are a really nice set of photos Marguerite!
Never thought of taking pictures after a frost because I find it so discouraging to lose all the plants..but you captured such beauty in your photos..we have had several bad frosts and bit of snow..keep safe if Sandy hits the island, we are in constant touch with family to make sure everyone is okay..just rain here so far but getting ready with extra water and finding all the flashlights and candles..hope it slows down soon..happy gardening Lannie
Thanks Jean, I love that first frost. As you say, sad but so incredible. Hope you're safe and dry this week, the weather this week is quite scary.
I hope you get to stay frost free for a while too! While it's pretty I wouldn't mind a few more weeks of warm weather.
I liked his point too, it's always nice to look back on photos of the garden - particularly in the cold of winter.
LOL, I wouldn't mind that kind of weather too much.
Jane, so nice to see you! Hope you're doing okay. This storm is absolutely crazy, never seen anything so huge. Jody was set to fly out Wednesday, going through Toronto, looks like it may be cancelled now.
Thanks Tufa! Miraculously we are missing this storm altogether. Usually hurricanes come straight up the east coast and into the maritimes but this time it's taking a left turn straight into New York missing us entirely.
Karin, I feel like every year I have to convince myself that winter will be okay. In my head I know I'll get through it but summer just feels far too short.
Bonnie, that's amazing that you sometimes miss frost altogether. Although I have noticed that on my drive to work if I go 4 kms down the road there's no frost at all. funny how that works.
Thanks Jennifer! looks like you'll be getting a lot more rain in the near future. Hopefully it will just be more muck and no flooding. I just can't get over how big Sandy is and how strange that it would hit Ontario and not us. Take care and stay dry.
Lannie, unfortunately it looks like you'll see worse than we will. I hear they're expecting snow on your end! Boomer says we're just fine - a couple mm's of rain and not even a lick of wind. Can you imagine? I don't know how PEI escaped the hurricane weather gods this season.
Marguerite girl your frost flowers and plants look spectacular!
We haven't had a proper frost .. just one early on that killed off my leaves to the Englemann ivy before it had a chance to turn colour .. mother nature worked against us here where I am to set the stage for what I was hoping for .. rather a disappointing year .. so I am HOPING the next one coming will be just right ? LOL
I am saving seeds from my wee pumpkins to see if I can grow them on the side of the house .. it would be so much fun if I could .. fingers crossed !
Good luck with the carving Marguerite girl .. watch out for your fingers !!
joy : )
I was bragging on our long summers and then the next thing I knew we had a freeze! I'm sorry to see all your flowers in such a hard frost, but they really are beautiful.
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