Still Snowy.

4-27-11 VERMONT: When we left Short Hills this morning, the apple trees were starting to open, but here in Vermont, we’re a month behind NJ. We still have snow piles, ice mounds actually, under the eaves on the front and back of the house and a little in the driveway. This deep into April is the latest that I remember snow here in the last twenty years. These piles are compacted from falling off the roof and are really like little glaciers, and they will last into May.

As the piles recede from the beds, the perennials spring up, NPI, almost immediately. The standing and flowing water from all the melt and thaw is everywhere. Walking around the pasture means picking out dry foot holds and navigating around the puddles and swamplets.

The frogs are in full voice and the pond, completely thawed, is full of egg globules. I saw fish, newts and a spotted salamander half hidden under leaves in shallow water.

Oops, I almost forgot, we saw “Book of Mormon” last night—a riot! We had dinner at Chez Napoleon on 50th St—also recommended.

In bloom: snowdrops, crocus, hellebore.


Glaciers out front.

Glaciers in back.

Crocus.

Snowdrops are all over the beds.