Snow in Austin sugars the garden
Crazy Texas weather strikes again! After a high of 79 F on Tuesday, this happened Wednesday night. Sure, local meteorologists had predicted a few snow flurries in the Hill Country, but temps in Austin, they assured, would hold at 32 F. Banking on over-hype, I brought indoors not a one of my tender potted succulents. Instead I crowded them against the house and threw a sheet over the ones on the deck.
By 11 p.m. excited posts from local friends were scrolling across my Facebook feed, and I decided I’d better have a look. Pulling back the curtains I was astonished to see fluffy snowflakes falling fast and frosting the garden.
Cosmo likes the cold and was eager to explore the change of scenery. And yes, this is a sneak peek of a big change in my back garden: the pond is gone! More to come on that soon.
(Are you thinking about anything besides the pond now?) By early morning, snow had sifted like powdered sugar across the mostly evergreen garden, and we’d dropped to 30 F. Slick with melted and refrozen snow, the deck offered this frosty view at 8 a.m. But soon melted snow was raining off the eaves, and the garden was green again.
It’s nothing, of course, to those of you with real winters. But snow is a novelty in Austin.
Plants with bold foliage, like Mediterranean fan palm, are even more striking with a dusting of snow.
Texas sotol sports a variegated look as snow stripes its strappy leaves.
Benches and tables appear to be painted white.
Ceramic globes wear lacy caps.
Giant leopard plant’s glossy, leathery leaves wear Santa beards of snow, but its yellow flowers seem unfazed. Let’s hope the quick dip below freezing doesn’t faze those tender potted succulents I left outside. We’ll be basking in the 70s again by tomorrow, and spring is still certainly right around the corner.
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Digging Deeper
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The dusting of snow makes for pretty pictures but I join you in hoping that it didn’t hang around long enough to create any real damage. Snow in Austin might be a novelty. Snow here would be national news! We also had a week of temperatures hanging around 80F followed by a sudden cold shift but we didn’t ever get below the mid-40s at night. Still, we’re moaning and groaning about it!
It all depends on what you’re used to — and what your plants are used to!
LOVE those frosty photos, especially the first three…the snow does a fantastic job of showing off the different shapes and textures of your always-wonderful garden! with matching canine, no less!
…and, way to slide right in there with your sneaky bombshell, too! 😉
And you’re the only person to mention it so far. 😉
I can’t imagine your garden without its signature stock tank pond!
Simply a change of scenery needed? Or did it spring a leak?
I’ll write more about it soon, Diana. It seems to have been a bigger deal than I expected for me to un-pond! 🙂
It always looks so pretty! Hoping no damage. We just got a bit of icy rain.
We’re bouncing back into the 70s today. I think everything will be fine because the freeze was so brief.
Cosmo looks like a snow dog sculpture in the garden. I love the way a good dusting of snow makes the garden look. When all melts it is like after a good rain. All looks fresh. I bet your delicate succulents do alright. Best of luck. I can’t wait to see what you do where the tank used to be. Look intriguing.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m looking forward to reimagining that space.
Really beautiful Pam. I especially like the picture of the plants by your front door. They wore their snow cloak well.
Thanks, Janet. Those architectural plants did look pretty with a little dusting of snow.
No, I’m not thinking of anything besides the pond! I’m very curious to hear more on that, and I know you’ll do something gorgeous with the space. Can’t wait to see it. I’m telling myself we’ve had the last freeze and just went a little crazy at Barton Springs Nursery. We shall see!
It’s that time of year for starting to go crazy at the nurseries. Happy planting! I’ll write more soon about the pond. 🙂
Where is the pond?!
Snow is cold and not my favorite, so I’m glad all your plants are ok! And that Cosmo enjoyed it!