A snowy landscape at the farm
Winter has definitely arrived and from what I've been hearing on the weather reports, it promises to be a long and harsh one. Judging from all of the comments I receive on this blog, so many of you enjoy the photo tours of my farm throughout the seasons. Although I wait with great anticipation for the return of warm weather, I really love the way the landscape looks all covered with snow. And, because I never get tired of snapping pictures, I wanted to share some more wintry photos taken the other day.
1 The eave along the north side of my carport is the perfect place to hang bird feeders. We take them down for cleaning and refilling using a long hooked pole. Notice the icicles?
2 The icicles along the sunny south side of the carport have melted. Here is a falling droplet of water and its shadow.
3 And another
4 And some more
5 Plop - into the puddle below on the gravel drive
6 A view through one of the carport windows - a very happy little bird
7 This is the pergola next to the greenhouse. I love the shadows cast by the low hanging sun.
8 This artemisia 'Powis Castle' is growing along the fence of the vegetable garden. Its silvery-gray leaves remain supple even in freezing temperatures.
9 My 'Japanese' container garden next to the cold frame has been wrapped in hay for the winter.
10 I love how these remaining stalks of Brussels sprouts look in the snowy vegetable garden.
11 And this row of leeks
12 The silvery leaf of an artichoke covered with snow
13 This bushy clump of rosemary is very cold hardy.
14 This is my field of very young Christmas trees.
15 A rather large mound of compost covered with snow.
16 My little pond is frozen solid.
17 Squirrel prints across the ice
18 This scrubby area is the wetland that runs through my property. It is full of wildlife.
19 This sycamore looks like it's covered with snow, but it's just the snowy looking bark.
20 A once gurgling brook frozen solid
21 Very long shadows fall across this meadow.
22 Another cascading brook
23 Autumn leaves trapped beneath the ice
24 A view into the woods
25 A rather cold looking boulder
26 Freezing looking but not quite frozen
27 This tree is growing alongside one of the brooks. Notice how its roots are clinging horizontally to the edge?
28 More very cold looking ice
29 A view through the trees to the pasture beyond
Hello Martha,
What lovely photos!!! I love the way the camera captures the light of winter !!! We have some snow here in paris too but it is never the same!
I love seeing the traces of animals reflected in the snow....
Thanks for the photos
Posted by: Cristina | January 7th, 2010 at 8:34 am
I noticed the gravel under the feeders ; how do you clean it up after the "birds feeding season" ?
Posted by: Dani & cats | January 7th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Hi Martha, thank you for sharing these beautiful and artistic Photos, love winter season and snow!
I would like to introduce you to Lebanon through the Intercontinental Hotels, one in Mount Lebanon and 2 in Beirut. I hope you will visit the Middle East. It will be a great honor.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/mzaar
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/beirut-phoenicia
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/beirut-levendome
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | January 7th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I so enjoyed this series of winter photos at the farm. Breathtaking. It is expected to be a harsh January in Philadelphia, too. Ahhh thank you Martha for sharing. It helps me to start planning for the spring garden. I do not know why it inspires me this way -- the contrast maybe...and the solid and sound information that MSO provides me. The entire country is cold this week. I encourage all your readers to visit check in with older neighbors as well as donate to homeless shelters and food pantries.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | January 7th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Martha:
Please show us the little pond again when it thaws. I don't remember seeing it in past blogs.
Regards,
Pat Mergel
Posted by: Pat Mergel | January 7th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Hi Martha,
I love how you captured that drop of water falling and then hitting a puddle in the gravel. I sure would like to have your camera!
~
And you have your own little pond to go ice skating if you wanted. When I resided in Michigan, I lived to ice skate. We would skate down this big hill and hit the pond and start coasting just to see who could coast the farthest. Those were the days!
~
My sister just reported a remark someone made about it being so cold in Florida, the iguanas are falling out of the trees! Lol. It is cold to us but you folks up north would probably call this sweater weather, 34 last night and maybe a high of 60 today. They have used helicopters to fly over some of the crops so they won’t freeze.
~
Thanks for your nice snowy landscape photos, Martha. I am off to get more coffee to warm up now! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 7th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hey Martha, I love the photos you take of every thing, you are like me always camera in hand. You have a beautiful home an I enjoy your blog very much. God Bless you this Year!
Posted by: Virginia Hamblin | January 7th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Martha, I love taking a break from work to view the photos of your farm. Your photos are my inspiration. The farm is a beautiful, peaceful place in any season! Love the bird feeders. I keep mine full as well, especially in these fridgid temperatures. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Suzan | January 7th, 2010 at 11:29 am
The birds are blessed as we are with your wonderful blog.
I look forward to so many "gifts" that you will share with us throughout the year. Your gift of talent.
Happy New Year!
Donna
Posted by: Donna Warrington | January 7th, 2010 at 11:30 am
For Dani & Cats -
To clean the gravel beneath the feeders, we use a broom and a blower on very low speed and make small piles and than put them into the compost.Â
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 7th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Thanks for sharing these photos Martha - I especially look forward to seeing the bird feeders! I have the magazine showing the feeders and it is one of my favorite issues so I was hoping you would post more at some point.
Also, in photo 26 I see a horse at the bottom of the photo in ice - or is it just me?
Posted by: Doe | January 7th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Thank you for the pics...I now live in the central valley of CA...your pictures reminded me of my childhood in Maryland and Pennsylvania...exploring the woods in the snow, looking at animal paw prints, frozen water with leaves,rocks,etc, the shadows on the snow...anyway, THANK YOU for bringing back nice memories!
Posted by: Patty Young | January 7th, 2010 at 11:44 am
"Plop" music to one's ears if out enjoying the winter sun and dreaming of spring.
I fed so much bird seed last winter this year I went to every other day feed in the trays. I think there were some birds that decided "what the hey" this is the place to stay during winter. And the plop landing on my car was not melting icicles.
Posted by: Margie | January 7th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Once again Martha, very beautiful.
Love the droplets of water shots.
Looking forward to the photos of Phuket!
Posted by: Wanda | January 7th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Hi Martha, I live in Maine near your home here and it is truly beautiful in the winter light. The ocean and the beach look very different in the winter season. Your farm is gorgeous in winter, love to see the pictures. Thanks for posting them, Take care Donna
Posted by: Donna Harmon | January 7th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Hi Martha!
I love your beautiful garden. It`s incredible
what do you all made in your life.
Thanks for inspiration
Birgitt Mezger/Germany
now living in Nova Scotia
Posted by: Birgitt Mezger | January 7th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Such a beautiful white fairyland. The fat little bird is so adorable and contented. Truly treasures in the snow.
Posted by: Elly Oliver | January 7th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I'm inspired by your photos of your homes. What camera did you take the Jan. 7 photos with - the pics have terrific resolution and are framed beautifully.
I watch your show every day and love your mags too!
Posted by: Jan | January 7th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
My favorite photos are of the farm and these are just lovely. I think winter is one of my favorite seasons of the year. The water droplet and the brooks are lovely. All the pictures are beautiful its hard to pick just one. We are expecting more snow tomorrow.
Linda
Phila, PA
Posted by: Linda | January 7th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Hi Jan, I am so glad that you enjoyed the photos! The camera used that day was my CANON 5D Mark II.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 7th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Can the brussels sprouts and leeks you showed still be harvested and eaten? I also loved the water drop sequence.
Posted by: Elizabeth Gage | January 7th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
hi martha!
your pictures are beautiful, thank you for sharing! a question...when should i start planting tulips?
thank you for creating such lovely sheets, i have two full sets now, they're so warm and comfy!
i also subscribed to martha stewart living, i am so excited to see all the creative ideas!
Posted by: lynette | January 7th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
These were great thank you. Hope everyone is still laughing its going to be BIG!
Posted by: K L Brown | January 7th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Hi Martha,
Thank you for posting these beautiful pictures of your farm in winter splendor! I live in Pennsylvania and we are thoroughly enjoying this 'real winter'. I am surprised to see you refer to your Rosemary plant as hardy--I dig mine up and bring it in every winter or it would not survive. Do you have a hardy variety that you can recommend?
Posted by: Maria | January 7th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
For Elizabeth Gage - I should think that eating vegetables that have frozen before harvest would be fine, however, the flavor and texture might be rather unpleasant. These crops really should be enjoyed before heavy frosts. I keep them in the ground because I like how they look.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 7th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
I think you could quit your day job and pursue your skill as a photographer. Always love the farm pictures and the animals both inside and out.
Posted by: Alma | January 7th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Martha I am so impressed with your photography. You inspire me to break out my camera and capture the beauty of New England (I'm in Massachusetts). And I love your cat photos. I bet there are many animal shelters who would love to have you photograph their adoptables to be posted online for adoption. It would make a great field trip.
Posted by: Diana LeBlanc | January 7th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Hi Ms. Stewart,
Your photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.I met you Tuesday on the Today show set. (My daughter Alanna was getting her Make-A-Wish granted). Everyone was so wonderful to us. I will always be grateful to have met such loving and caring people.I looked up TedMed as you suggested. All I can say is Wow!I would love to learn more.You told me to call you but I dont have your number. I want to give you my numbers with hopes we can talk more about TedMed.Last year Alanna died in my arms.after reviving her and performing emergency surgery they did not leave much hope for us. We formed massive prayer groups,touch healing,meditation including sound healing at night.Her disipline and will to live enabled her to overcome the gloom and doom picture originally painted. We visualized the future and what it held for her,set goals and have been reaching each,one at a time. Dr. Fredrick Ryckman and Dr Charles Park who both were at her code performed miracles with their hands.They are the major reason why she is here today.
Anyway thats the Readers Digest of Alanna's story-- I think she would be a great inspirational speaker at TedMed. I hope you call. My home is 513-553-2037 My cell is 513-623-4807
Once again thank you for your time."You got game!" Linda Lohrer
Posted by: Linda Lohrer (Alanna Martella's mom from Today show set Jan. 6) | January 7th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
.
Cantitoe Oasis In Winter
.
A droplet of rain falls but is not lost
It freezes forming an icicle at no cost
A warming sun thaws the icicle stalactite
Again a droplet falls and forms an icy stalagmite.
Carved into history as the droplets fall
A camera catches their shadows on the wall.
From the carport eave many bird feeders hang in a row
To take them down, like the old lamp lighter of long ago.
Thru the carport window is a happy little bird indeed,
An eye to filling its belly full of the mixed bird seed:
Shadows of the pergola from a low hanging sun
And a supple 'Powis Castle' even though freezin' has begun
Japanese container garden wrapped for winter in hay,
Close by, in the cold frame comfy lettuce and herbs stay.
Brussel sprouts hangin' on tight to the stalks, it's cold down there.
In the snowy garden a row of leeks lookin' 'cool' for the camera
A bushy clump of cold hardy rosemary says ha! to winter chill.
Field of young Christmas trees, toes curled, diggin' in with a will.
The precious wetland that runs through the farm
Full of wildlife hangin' around'til summer warm:
Ponds and brooks frozen solid, leaves trapped under ice.
A rather cold looking boulder with a snow cap that's nice.
A sycamore that will be a handsome decidious giant in time,
A 'plane-tree' among the mottled blotches the farther up you climb.
Peek into the woods, long shadows across the meadows,
Blue skies smiling down on where the wild flower grows:
A tree in life's struggle alongside a stilled brook,
Roots clingin', hangin' in, hangin' on, take a look.
Clear view through the trees to the snowy pasture beyond,
Stuff of which dreams are made, before the morning dawned.
.
.
Song in my heart - Mozart's Piano Concerto #21
.
Posted by: celia stock | January 7th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Hi Martha,
Do you ever go skating on the pond? What a wonderful party you could have!
Love photo 28...i would buy a print of that!
Posted by: sherey | January 7th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Oh how I miss winter and sceneslike that. I used to live on Long Island, but now reside in Florida. I miss quiet walks in the snow after it has fallen and just the coziness of the house when it is snowing outside. And yes this a.m. it was 19 where I reside, north of Tampa.
And on Saturday we are supposed to have snow flurries...yee hah....
Posted by: dorothy | January 7th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I always Love seeing your photos of your landscaping all around your property. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Michelle | January 7th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Such beautiful pictures of your home. I think you get better and better with every picture you take. I love looking at your home in the winter time. What a lovely place to live. I don't know how you keep up with all the pictures you take!! I would have to have a gallery by now. I hope you frame a lot of them and hang them in your homes for all your guests to enjoy. I know we do. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Posted by: Beth | January 7th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Hi martha. . .Your grounds never cease to amaze me .. .just to have brooks on your property is just fantastic. . I happen to love brooks and white birch trees. . .Do you have any white birch on your farm .??
Thnx again for sharing .. you make my day . .
best, Nina
Posted by: nina zeumer | January 7th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
It looks beautiful and I love your use of birdfeeders. I'd love to see what it looks like when the birds are enjoying the feed!
Posted by: Lisa | January 7th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Days like this one in today's photo gallery cause me to breathe a prayer Heavenward saying "thank you, Lord, for this beautiful day!"...the blinding sun bouncing back off the snowy ground and clear blue skies overhead with white fluffy clouds - well, it's pretty special!
~
My Martha, me-thinks we've got a ways to go before springtime beckons! We're (I'm) receiving a light snowfall as I'm writing, and I must say that we here in Maryland have turned into downright wimps, as we've had easyeasy winters for about the last four or five years. We r-a-r-e-l-y get snow in December, but this year (well, last year, actually) disproved that theory. Winters were heavy with snowfall (and cold!) when I was a little girl, and it just seems that things have changed, climate-wise. Last winter, we received barely 3-4" total snowfall, and I'd venture to say that thus far, on this day of January 7th, we've prob'ly gotten close to 30" already! Now, that's a total switcheroo!
~
It's a little premature to begin the chant 'think spring, think spring'...maybe in the meantime, we can take comfort in poring over the seed catalogs that are arriving in the mail - you know - as we plan our 'biggest-n-bestest' garden EVER for spring/summer 2010 (each new planting season is always dreamed to be the biggest-n-best one ever!)
~
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 7th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Hi Martha, OH, how special these photos are of your beautiful farm during this winter time in New York! These photos are not only stunning, but really fun to enjoy! You sure do know how to please all of us with your fun time out there taking these photos! I love seeing your beautiful farm at all times of the year and seeing these special photos is an absolute pleasure that makes my day! Your TV show today sure was fun to watch again. Your guests are so great and I love seeing Joey Kola anytime. Thanks for all that you do for all of us! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 7th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Beautiful, lovely photos Martha!
You captured every photo like a PRO, or are you really one? you are superb! pls. post more soon! thank you...
Mappi
Osaka, JPN
Posted by: Mappi | January 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Wow Martha tell me more about that winter hardy Rosemary! I live in Colorado and have never been able to grow Rosemary in anything but a pot during the summer and it always dies inside before spring.
Posted by: Careen | January 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Hi Martha - I was one of your fans who posted a comment on your end-0f-year site about how I loved pictures of your farm the most at any season. Thank you so much for this group of photos - especially beautiful. I can see from the comments how many others enjoy them as well. Thanks again and please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your beautiful horse.
Posted by: mary barber | January 8th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hi Martha
Beautiful pictures, I really enjoy looking at them.
Posted by: Thelma Day | January 8th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Martha, as usual the beautiful photos made me feel like I was there in your wonderful farm. Thank you again for sharing. Photo #14 did strike my fancy. It must be wonderful after the trees are grown, to go to your own Christmas tree field and choose the tree to your liking...or even just to have them there untouched. Wow! Your own pinetum or field of conifers.
Posted by: Nikki | January 8th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Will you go ice skating on the little pond?
Posted by: Mike | January 8th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
.
.......7 weeks, 2 days 'til March 1st, when daffodil heads poke from the ground!
Time speeds. Enjoy today and its snow!
.
Posted by: National Cancer Society for Animals | January 8th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Martha
These photos are absolutely beautiful. I love seeing photos of the farm and countryside. How wonderful to have your own "christmas tree" field. What a joy to look forward to when they grow. Here in Australia it is very hot as we reach the hottest part of summer. While the snowy country looks so beautiful we understand the down side of moving around.
Love your show.
Posted by: Barbara | January 8th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Ooh everything is just gorgeous like frozen Narnia. I love winter and walks and picture taking. Have you had any rare birds at the feeders? I was unaware rosemary would survive such cold temperatures. Mine never does. Could that have been thyme?
Posted by: Pam from Indiana | January 9th, 2010 at 11:11 am
I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to share the pasions of your personal life! I love farming, and to see what is ever developing at yours!
Posted by: Sheri | January 9th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Loved these photos. Especially the timed water drops.
Posted by: Carol | January 9th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Dear Martha.....
So sorry to hear the passing of your horse Martyn. He was a beautiful horse and we know
you will miss him deeply. Our THOUGHTS and
PRAYERS are with all of you at your home.
Teresa and Kevin Benninghoff
Posted by: Teresa L. Benninghoff | January 9th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Hi Martha,
Greetings from Alaska, I love the photos. I have never been on your blog and I like what I have read already. The winter landscape is beautiful, Beleave it or not here in southeast Alaska it is doing the normal rain (I live in the rainforest) and no snow so far this season.
I will definatly come back.
Posted by: Serena | January 10th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Hello MARTHA, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW DO YOU STILL HAVE TURKEY HILL I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PIC.FROM THERE I LOVE WATCHING YOUR SHOW AND YOUR WEB PAGE. SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR HORSE THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INFO. HELEN
Posted by: HELEN | January 10th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Hi Martha, Thanks for the winter photo's of the farm. I am always looking forward to your winter pictures. So peaceful and beautiful.Love the droplets of water that you caught in mid air. What a camera, what a photographer. Again thanks for sharing with us. I simply love your farm! Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia | January 10th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Well, I am reading a post above from Helen as she asks about Turkey Hill. I think the last time I had read writing from Martha was when she was explaining in Living how she had sold Turkey Hill.
I could not go on after the sale of Turkey Hill. I got stuck back there. It was the mature gardens that I could not let go of. I take full responsibility for my emotional holding. I am smiling. It's not your fault, Martha, that I was slow to grieve the loss of Turkey Hill while you were marvelously creating a new set of gardens and wonder to delight my eyes.
oooh, the baby Christmas trees! So fun! What are you going to do with that?!?
I am so happy now that I have seen the photos on this blog. Also, to discover that you are writing a blog, well, I'm relieved.
Yeah, you are a writer, Martha. It's wonderful to read your writing. The "relief" is for me. I have missed you and the community around you.
I don't get Tv. I have not seen you or heard from you for ages, but now I can catch up with your blog!
I came visiting to see if you had a garden calendar on this site. I need that. Please?
I am smiling. Like you and your staff don't have enough to do...
SWAK !
Anastasia.
Posted by: Anastasia Shilling | January 11th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Always enjoy reading, seeing what is happening in the Stewart Chronicles.
Posted by: Lou | January 11th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I always enjoy your pictures. I especially enjoyed this awesome set of pictures on your farm -- seeing it through your eyes... fresh and artistic... makes me feel I am exploring there on your farm with you! Thank you so much for sharing so generously with us!!
Posted by: Mary Helen Chapman | January 12th, 2010 at 4:49 am