Snow?!?!

As much of a hassle as snow is on the roads and even my short uncovered drive way, I am really keeping my fingers crossed for a good heavy snow fall very soon.  For my garden's sake.  I have several potted native plants waiting for their new homes as well as a couple flats of native seeds going through cold stratification and this cold dry weather is going to stress them out.  Besides my little garden, many of our ponds went into fall with very little water and the frogs and turtles rely on that water to insulate them during their winter sleep.  In other places, like the heritage garden at work, the dry spell at the end of fall left the soil parched and a good layer of snow provides perfect winter mulch for perennials.  On a side note, I cleaned my little pond late in the fall and left the pump running.  Even though a skin of ice formed a couple times over the entire surface, the water has continued circulate and is still crystal clear.  It is really neat to go out at night and hear the water running in the pond.