Scenes from a snow and ice filled weekend…

It’s been a wintery few days in Portland, starting last Thursday afternoon and finally (sort of) ending on Sunday. Friday was pretty much a city-wide holiday as everyone that could (the lucky ones) stayed home and off the streets. The park at the end of our block became a destination, pulling kids (both young and old) from far and wide. It’s hard to tell from this shot but in between the people in the foreground and those in the distance is a deep ravine, perfect for deprived city-folk to revel in the thrill of a quick slide. The screams and cheers were so loud we could hear them from inside the house.

Initially I fought the temptation to get out there and record the snowy scene in my garden, but when the sun briefly made an appearance I gave in. I'm glad I did because in the hours that followed many of these became completely buried under the white stuff.

That done, and with the rest of the afternoon ahead of me (plans for the day cancelled, due to the snow) I decided to do a little gardening, indoor gardening. After all the prisoners hadn’t gotten their mid-winter grooming and drink yet, seemed like the perfect activity for a snow day.

Heck with all the plants temporarily hiding out in the basement it’s almost like being outside in the garden…

But on to the long term incarcerated. I love discovering a bloom, this one on an aloe (A. ‘Blue Elf’ I believe).

The Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' bulbils I brought home from my brother in Arizona seem to have taken root. A soft tug and they stay in place, time for a light spritz with the water bottle.

This Echinocactus grusonii is an odd color. Too light, not that nice dark green it's supposed to be. It’s not soft though so perhaps it will be okay once it’s back outside again this spring?

Lots of new growth on the Euphorbia horrida...

And look! I’ve managed to keep a Euphorbia tirucalli alive!

This gorgeous little Kalanchoe beharensis was a gift from Ricki (Sprig to Twig), she’s a whiz at rooting cuttings.

And the newest prisoner, another K. beharensis, from my friend Bridget who’s clearing things out and needed to find a new home for some of her babies. I'll pot them up together when it's time to move 'em all out in the spring. All-in-all it was a good snow day, that is until I emerged from the basement to discover a couple more inches on the ground and more snow falling.

Saturday started of with even more snow but ended with the dramatic tinkling of ice falling from the sky. A strangely beautiful sound which I do not want to hear again anytime soon. Taking Lila out for a (unsuccessful) potty trip before bed I was dismayed to find nearly every branch that could bend was touching the ground and coated with ice. Of course the bamboo always plays the drama queen...

I awoke on Sunday morning to find the forecast, which had been calling for another 1/4" of ice, had changed...no more ice! Thank god. Now as long as what's here melts before anything breaks under the weight I will be thankful. I broke this ice leaf casting free so you could see just how thick it is.

Opuntia

The leaves on the largest Yucca rostrata seem to have moved enough in the light breeze to have kept sheets of ice from forming. Not so on the smaller ones.