The Rhododendron plants outside our bedroom window help us to tell how cold it is … today for example, overnight was cold; I took this picture about 7:30am when it was maybe 15f (-9c):
You can see how the Rhododendron has “dipped” it’s leaves nearly vertical, presumably as an adaptation to allow any falling snow to drop off the leaves and prevent breaking branches!
This afternoon, 3pm, the temperature is close to 40f (4c), and the Rhododendron has responded:
We’ve had lots of snow here so far this year, as many pictures on my “2009: A year in pictures” surely demonstrates … but the state is set up to handle it, calling up plow trucks that keep the roads safe, and people that (mostly) know how to handle it.
Some people even enjoy the snow, going skiing and such – Christian’s dog Greta loves it too:
The back of our house faces North, so doesn’t get much sun. Higher up the roof, the sun melts snow, which runs down and re-freezes in the gutter, blocking it:
M&I / GBMINI 