Our area of northwestern Virginia was spared the worst of the weekend storm. The snowfall was at the low end of predictions, but followed by hours of sleet. This was also fortunate, as the sleet did not adhere to branches of trees and evergreens. I’m just getting out to roam the garden to assess damage, but I expect there will be none.

While the storm raged, I saw that birds share my preference for snow and other forms of frozen precipitation rather than rain if I must be outdoors. With the predicted storm moving closer, the previous day I filled the bird feeders so I would not be forced into the cold. A variety of birds took full advantage through the storm while I viewed from the warm sunroom.

The downside of hours of sleet falling onto inches of snow was evident while clearing just enough of the driveway that we can get out if necessary. The inches thick frozen crust was removed with great difficulty, but again I was rewarded by the forethought thirty-seven years ago in selecting this home with a short driveway and long garden to the rear of the house.

The snow is deep enough to cover and insulate a few less cold tolerant plants, but I expect some damage by several nighttime lows below zero (Fahrenheit) later this week. An expected low of three below will almost certainly ruin flower buds of paperbushes (Edgeworthia chrysantha) and damage or death is expected for fatsias and schefflera despite a covering of frost cloth. I’ll be happy if some lower branches survive.

The forecasted cold will be the most extreme in years, and after recent years with little snowfall we have the return of both sub-zero cold and measurable snow. With this storm, the beauty of snow clinging to branches and accumulating in evergreens was missed, but we also missed the destruction that ice brought to some areas.

Thankfully, the sun is out, melting snow and ice on plowed roads even as freezing temperatures continue. This will be a slow melt, unfortunately delaying the increasing number of flowers that gave hope in the progress to spring.