A January 2020 Snowfall

January 25, 2020

We’re expecting a day of rain here in the New York City area with temperatures rising into the upper 40s.

Although we’ve had a relatively mild winter so far, temperatures have been very erratic. In recent weeks, we’ve had both spring-like weather as well as days in the 20s. Last weekend, weather conditions were just right for us to get about four to six inches of moderately wet and heavy snow. The morning after, I ventured out to take some photos and to plow the four miles of carriage roads here at the farm. Using my trusted Polaris XP Ranger 1000 fitted with its adjustable snow plow, it took me about two-and-a-half hours to do, but I got the job done.

Enjoy these photos.

: I love our Polaris vehicles. This Polaris XP Ranger 1000 has 80 horsepower – one of the most powerful in its class. It is easy to handle and helps with so many of the chores around the farm. Here I am about to plow the four miles of carriage roads – so much fun!

: This view is of the soccer field or “Party Lawn.” During summer, it is my grandson’s favorite spot – I put out a regulation-size soccer net where he and his friends can play for hours. On the right, one can see the snow-covered roof of the old corn crib.

: Here is a view looking through my fruit orchard that surrounds the pool.

: Tucked away between the Equipment Barn and a grove of weeping willows is my pinetum. It includes pines, spruces, and firs, as well as other evergreens. In the foreground, a recently planted border of Osmanthus fastigiata.

: Here is my stand of American beech trees. They are slow to grow but can live up to 300-years. It’s interesting how some drop all their leaves, while others hold onto them as long as possible.

: Whenever it snows, I am always grateful for the stakes we put up delineating the carriage roads. We paint the tips of those stakes that mark the catch basins, so if needed, the side openings can be cleared.

: Here I am driving and plowing the road down the Boxwood Allee draped in burlap. This vehicle plows wonderfully and gets into tight spots where a big pick-up truck wouldn’t be able to go.

: These roads are also covered in gravel, so I keep the plow just barely touching the top of the snow, leaving about an inch of white cover. It still looks pretty, and the crowns of the roads are left undisturbed.

: One of the most popular views at the farm – this one looking down the long and winding carriage road to the lower hayfields and the woodlands beyond. Majestic trees stand tall in the woodland, with smaller saplings growing below. This carriage road leads to the back hayfields and to my little woodland cottage.

: This path between the paddocks runs from my Winter House and carport down to the chicken coops. Just inside both of these paddocks are younger linden trees.

: Here’s a stand of dawn redwoods, Metasequoia, with their straight trunks – impressive trees by any standard, and beautiful in any season. Thankfully, the wind was not very strong, so none of the trees lost any branches.

: The fencing is 100-year old white spruce fencing from Canada with newer cedar uprights to support it. I love how it casts shadows in the snow.

: Here are four of my five donkeys – “Jude Junior,” Billie, “Truman Junior,” and Clive. They love this weather and have naturally thick coats that protect them in the cold.

: They also love visitors, especially those with treats. Rufus, “Truman Junior,” and Clive are coming to the fence to say hello – hello my gorgeous donkeys!

: The boxwood hedge surrounding my herbaceous peonies is well-insulated from the inclement weather. Several holes are left in the burlap for visiting birds. The peonies in these beds are also well-insulated with mulch to stabilizes the winter temperature and preserve the moisture through the cold months.

: Here is the side entrance to my ginkgo and boxwood garden behind the Summer House. I am so glad my boxwood is well protected under the burlap coverings.

: This apple tree was here when I purchased my home. It is one of several lined up behind the herbaceous peony garden. They still produce an abundance of apples every fall.

: And here is the view of the ancient apple trees in one of the horse paddocks. In front are European beech trees, Fagus sylvatica, or the common beech – a deciduous tree belonging to the beech family Fagaceae and native to the woodlands of central and southern Europe.

: This is the carriage road to my tennis court where we planted an allee of Marley’s Pink Parasol’ Japanese Snowbell trees and Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’. They all continue to do so nicely in this area.

: And here’s a sweeping view of the horse paddocks taken with a drone. The straight lines bordered by the antique fencing crisscrossed with the burlap-covered boxwood in the allee look so pretty. Go to my Instagram page @marthastewart48.com for more of my photos. Enjoy the weekend.