After a couple of years of Polar Vortex, this winter has felt pretty mild. There’s been cold, but it’s rarely gotten much below 20 degrees (in my opinion, you don’t have real cold unless it gets below 20). And there’s been snow, but never more than a few inches at a time, and often not even that.
A few days ago Judy slipped into the Back Garden with her camera to take some pictures of the light blanket of newly fallen snow. Her attention was taken by Middle Billy Goat Gruff. He was installed as a companion to the Big Billy Goat Gruff (Aruncus dioicus – the native Goatsbeard) and Little Billy Goat Gruff (Aruncus aethusifolius – Dwarf Goatsbeard), both growing nearby. And you see they have a bridge to cross.
And we have our troll of course, looking a bit grumpier than usual.
Our blue bird house looks particularly cozy with a coating of snow on the roof.
The Annabelle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) look sort of like frosted flakes.
Don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m on the downhill slide from winter to spring. But this only makes me more impatient.
gardeninacity 
Our winter has been the same; nuisance storms and relatively warm, and I can’t wait for spring.
Today is the coldest day of the season at 1 degree. At least it’s sunny.
You’ve got us beat but it’s cold here as well. -6 tonight they say.
Despite the mild winter I’m feeling a bit like your troll, who I find to be rather cute. Or perhaps I just recognize a kindred spirit when I see one.
We also think the troll is cute. Judy has a thing for trolls.
When I looked at the first photo on my phone it looked like a real goat standing there. ha.. I had to read on… Nice shots of the flakes in your garden. We got a dusting of snow today. Nothing sticking due to warm earth. It has been a warm wet winter for us. I am not complaining.
We got the biggest snowfall of the year yesterday at “just” 6 inches. A bit more coming next week, but highs above freezing.
Billy Goats Gruff hold a special place in my heart- my youngest, as a high school freshman, won state forensics for storytelling with her rendition of said story. Your Billy Goats representation is very clever.
That’s cool – I would like to hear that rendition! Maybe you should post a video if you have one.
Until this week we had a pretty mild winter. Of course any winter would be mild with your standard of 20 degrees or colder. If it gets to 32 I’m not happy. Ha! Here’s hoping that spring is just around the corner.
We’re down to 1 degree today! Coldest day of the season. But not too bad compared to last year with the polar vortex – I think we wend down to -20.
The garden looks quite peaceful under the snow…. having never lived in snow I’m amazed that plants grow so well under and through snow.. I enjoy your spring! 😀
Somehow they evolved ways to survive.
Your post brings a smile. Love the goat. Perhaps the troll does share the idea you don’t have real cold unless it gets below 20.
Perhaps. But I think he does not appreciate the dusting of snow.
I think I need to buy a goat for my goatsbeard. 🙂
I recommend it. A little play on words spices up the garden.
We’ve been having much the same winter. I define cold the same as you! Which isn’t to say I’ve enjoyed the past few months… Like you, I’ve begun scanning the ground for green tips to emerge even though I know that is ridiculous. Impatient! I LOVE your goat.
Judy found some Snowdrop leaves before the latest snowfall. Now they’re covered with about 6″. I expect they’ll do fine, though.
Yes, I do too. How exciting to see proof that spring is coming, and not just on the calendar which always seems theoretical to me.
I’m praying we don’t get a lalapalooza of a storm in March! It wouldn’t be the first time. All my spring bulbs are unwisely advancing far too early. Picked my first daff last week, a full six weeks earlier than usual. I’m hoping all the buds peeking out don’t end up with freezer burn. Your billy goat (the middle one) is quite handsome! Thanks for a winter garden post.
March? How about April? It’s been know to happen, at least in Chicago.
I think your billy goat gruff (and dormant companions) and troll are delightful.
Thank you! We enjoy them.
Yes, I’m feeling the same way, but we’ll have our coldest temps of the winter this week. Only a couple of days, though, and then we’re back to milder winter temps. This type of winter is OK.
It got down to 1 degree this morning! Back to the 30s tomorrow. So how are registrations going for the Fling?
I love your goat. I have a squirrel made of similar materials who lives on my patio. I’ve had him for years, and he’s slowly rusting away, but I still think he’ll outlast me. Your photos are great. Post-blizzard photos can be impressive, but there’s something about a dusting of snow that seems to make all that winter foliage and such attractive as can be.
I have enough live squirrels, I think. We got a bunch more snow yesterday, about 6 inches. As much as we’ve gotten all year.
Today’s the 125th anniversary of the most significant snow in Texas — at least, in recorded history. It was brutally cold and snowy all along the Gulf coast. There’s a great article here. Check out the photo of Houston’s Main Street!
Oh, love, love love your goat, and the grumpy troll. How pretty the snow looks. I do hope we get a dusting.xxx
The goat was definitely a good addition to the garden.
Trit trot, trit trot