Walloped!

The table and four chairs in the courtyard right after dawn.  That's 25" of snow on top of the table!

The snowstorm we woke up to on Friday morning was a beauty.  The one we woke up to this morning was a beast!  It broke all records around here; records that go as far back as the Civil War.  We get a ton of snow in this part of New Hampshire but not usually this amount in one storm so early in the season.  Twenty-five inches of snow fell here at Juniper Hill.  Here are some photos I took this morning while we were digging out.

The First Snowfall

The first snowfall is always enchanting although I have to say that the enchantment tends to wear off pretty quickly around here as winter's grip on these north woods gets tighter and tighter and the snow piles get higher and higher. Nevertheless, those first snowflakes are always beautiful and when they come on the heels of the fall foliage season, the scenery can be even more glorious.  I walked around the garden this morning and shot these photos.  I hope you enjoy them!

Behind The Lens

Behind The Lens- Autumn II

Nothing in the garden says October like pumpkins and gourds. And with halloween fast approaching, it's time for pumpkin carving. Do you have your jack-o-lantern yet?

Rachel's Garden- Fall

For more art from Rachel's Garden, click here.

To see what this is all about, click here.

Behind The Lens

Reflections  photo by Andrea Geesaman

Many of the best photographs you see on this blog are shot by Andrea Geesaman. Andrea is an accomplished photographer and graphic designer with her own studios located in Pennsylvania who, in the spirit of full disclosure, also happens to be our lovely daughter.  

I am thrilled to announce that she will become a regular guest contributor to Notes from Juniper Hill, sharing with us some of her beautiful images, as well as offering her own insight into the worlds of photography, art, and design as they relate to gardening, food, travel and the beauty of the natural world.  She will also be happy to respond to readers who have specific questions or comments about the process of garden and landscape photography; an area of interest to many of us who want to capture all the wonderful natural beauty that surrounds us.  

You'll notice a new, Behind The Lens, photography section with Andrea's photo on the sidebar, and by clicking on her image you will be able to quickly find all her latest blog entries. And right below that, you'll find links to some of our favorite garden photographers.  

You can visit Andrea's own website at http://www.dreaimagesandstudio.com.  

In this first post by Andrea she shares with us some of the beauty that New England has to offer this time of the year.

Out With The Veggies and In With The Ornamentals

It's that time of year again when we are emptying containers around the garden. Some of the container plants are way past their prime and will look better sitting on top of the compost pile than they're looking right now in their pots.  Others, however, are still looking pretty spiffy and it's a major decision whether to disassemble them, wanting to hang on just a while longer to any little bit of summer flower color in this season dominated by halloween orange.  Still, I know that if I don't take care of this chore right now, I'll be running up against the changing seasons (which can happen in the blink of an eye here) and I'll be stuck out there in the wind and cold trying to extract a bunch of half-frozen plants from a bunch of half-cracked pots with chilled, half-numb fingers.

Serendipity

There are many times in the garden when serendipity trumps thoughtful planning. This pot of cordyline is a perfect example.

Garden Notables-Adrian Hardy Haworth

Haworthia attenuata is the centerpiece in this bowl of succulents


Who are these people and why are they in my garden?

Guest Blogger- Maude Odgers

In her latest post, Maude says goodbye to summer and reminds us of all those things we'll miss and a few that we won't.

Ode to Summer

“ Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”  Rachel Carson

As I walk around the garden I feel the days growing shorter, turning cooler and sifting into fall. I feel one foot lagging behind, wanting to stay in the warm days of summer. The other foot steps forward, feeling the crunch of fallen leaves and sensing the inevitable arrival of snow soon to follow. I am already mourning the disappearance of summer, there behind me, just out of reach.

English Gardens-Sibylle Kreutzberger's Garden

The view of the garden from Sibylle's cottage

One of the great thrills on our trip to England this summer was to spend some time with gardening legend Sibylle Kreutzberger.  Through the kind introduction of our hosts, Gordon and Mary Hayward, we had the opportunity to take tea and visit with Sibylle in her wonderful Cotswold cottage and garden.

Period Restoration

It's raining in the garden today so it seems like a good time to take off on a little rant that has nothing to do with flowers, trees or shrubs: