February 2017 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Hoy]

Salix myrsinites.




Pinus sylvestris. Some are rather dense.




The needles are short and broad. This specimen had also unusually small cones.

[Hoy]

Beautiful scenery!  Almost worth tying pieces of wood to one's feet to enjoy it!! 

You don't need to tye anything (they have invented  some smart technical thing ) and it's nor wood anymore! (I had my last wooden ski in the 90ies I think 

[Hoy]

Sounds about right for late February Beautiful!

We did get snow last night and on Saturday. Before that it was almost nothing here. Very unusual for February!

[Matt T]

You don't need to tye anything (they have invented  some smart technical thing ) and it's nor wood anymore! (I had my last wooden ski in the 90ies I think 

I saw a feature on a TV show a couple of days ago about a young chap somewhere in the Highlands who makes wooden skis. They were things of real beauty.

[Robert]

Just too cool you down a bit. No spring up here yet. Flowers are still far away. Winter holiday.

Trond,

Wonderful photographs! 

I was up at the 900 meter level today (Sierra Nevada). There was a fresh coating of snow on the ground, about 15 cm. I would have taken some photographs but it started snowing hard and the snow plows were still trying to get things cleared out. No place to pull over yet and I was not driving the Subaru. 

The day before I was at the same elevation. There was only 1 cm of snow on the ground at that time. Ribes roezlii was starting to bud out. No signs of flowers yet, however I frequently see them blooming with a knife-edge of snow along their stems. This is a very beautiful sight!

[Philip Walker]

Dionysia 'Monika'

[Maggi Young]

You don't need to tye anything (they have invented  some smart technical thing ) and it's nor wood anymore! (I had my last wooden ski in the 90ies I think 

Amazing! Who knew??

[Hoy]

Amazing! Who knew??

(Attachment Link)

You?

...and me 

[Hoy]

Trond,

Wonderful photographs! 

I was up at the 900 meter level today (Sierra Nevada). There was a fresh coating of snow on the ground, about 15 cm. I would have taken some photographs but it started snowing hard and the snow plows were still trying to get things cleared out. No place to pull over yet and I was not driving the Subaru. 

The day before I was at the same elevation. There was only 1 cm of snow on the ground at that time. Ribes roezlii was starting to bud out. No signs of flowers yet, however I frequently see them blooming with a knife-edge of snow along their stems. This is a very beautiful sight!

Thanks Robert 

Snow at 900m elevation in California now?  When do you reckon the spring arrives at that altitude?

[Robert]

Thanks Robert 

Snow at 900m elevation in California now?  When do you reckon the spring arrives at that altitude?

Trond,

One year there was 40-60 cm of snowfall on 1 April. This was at the farm, 500 meters. 

Even with warmer weather, there can still be snow at 900 m through March. At 1,500 meters there can be fresh snowfall up to the end of May. Sometimes during the U.S.A. holiday at the end of May we would get snowed in at my father's cabin. One year, there was at least 80 cm of new snowfall. Everyone needed to be at work the next day, so the 4x4 vehicles pulled everyone out of the snow and a convoy was created to get out to the main highway many km away. In less than a week it was all done!

Needless to say, species such as Ribes roezlii are well adapted to such conditions.

[Maggi Young]

Some pictures from the bulb garden of "Hubi"


Cyclamen coum enjoys the humous soil under deciduous shrubs


Special light for the Cyclamen against the low morning sun


Cyclamen coum Album and Crocus chrysanthus 'Milea'

Thomas is not here in the forum much these days - his daily life to too busy - but he sends his good wishes to all here.