An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

February 19, 2015

Winter Walk-Off 2015

     Happy, happy, joy, joy! Winter will be over, at least officially, in just one month. Here at A Tidewater Gardener we celebrate the occasion with a Winter Walk-Off meme, and this year will mark five years. For those of you who aren't familiar with my little challenge, this is a way to encourage all bloggers to rise from the couch, cast off that musty Afghan, grab a camera, and get out of the house to show the rest of us what their part of the planet looks like.

As always, the rules are simple, the rules are flexible:


  • On your own two feet, leave the house, and share what can be seen within walking (or biking) distance of your home (if you want to drive to your walk destination that's OK too). Your post does not have to be about gardening or a travelogue (though I do like both), unless you want it to be. Maybe instead you will find some unusual patterns, interesting shadows, signs of spring, a favorite restaurant or shop, questionable landscaping, or local eyesores. Whatever, just keep your eyes and mind open, be creative, and have fun, but don't show anything from your own garden.
  • Post your own Winter Walk-Off on your blog, and link it back to this post. Also, please leave me a link and comment here when your post is up. If you have recently written something similar, you are welcome to recycle.
  • I will keep the challenge open until midnight on March 19th, the last day of winter (or summer for those of you below the equator, who are welcome to join in).
  • Everyone who participates will have a chance to win one of two prizes, and a totally disinterested teenager will randomly draw the winning names. One lucky participant will win something very special (at least it's special to me), a fossil of Chesapecten jeffersonius, which is over 4 million years old. This is the state fossil of Virginia, honoring both the Chesapeake Bay and Thomas Jefferson. The not-as-lucky winner will receive a small framed print of some subject of my choosing, and if the winner doesn't like the image, then I hope they like the frame. I will contact each winner, and mail the prizes after the Walk-Off is over. 


  • I hope these guidelines are simple enough for you to consider joining in, because the more, the merrier.

    *****

         Now on to my own Winter Walk-Off, which is actually my second this year. My first took place this past Saturday in Willoughby Spit, a little beachfront community precariously built on a large sandbar here in Norfolk. However, the wind was bitter cold, and between that, and my two unruly dogs, it was not the best photo expedition. Regardless, I was prepared to share those photos with you, when low and behold, we got a snow day on Tuesday. So I took advantage of the better photo ops, and bundled up for a walk down to the river. Along the way I was distracted by the bark on this crapemyrtle (probably Lagerstroemia x  'Natchez').
    Rhode Island Circle (1)

         I saw two things on my walk I have never seen here before: snowboards on a local car's roof rack, and the Lafayette River nearly frozen from one side to the other.
    Snowboards

    Newport (1)

    In Remembrance

    Come on in, the water's fine

    Lafayette (1)

    No Fishing or Crabbing

         My favorite kayak launch was concealed by a treacherously thick coat of ice and snow, but as much as I look forward to my next trip, it was not quite paddling-friendly weather.
    Mayflower Steps

        Rounding the corner, I followed the shoreline of Knitting Mill Creek. The foolhardy might be tempted to cross the ice; this body of water was frozen from one side to the other. Some are frightened by bears, others by heights. Me, I am afraid of falling through ice.
    Knitting Mill Creek (3)

    Knitting Mill Creek (5)

    Knitting Mill Creek (8)

    Knitting Mill Creek (4)

    Knitting Mill Creek (11)

    Knitting Mill Creek (14)

         There are several live oaks (Quercus virginiana) planted along the shore. With light reflecting up from the snow at their feet, the normally dark interiors of their crowns had a bit of a glow.
    Live Oak

    Live Oak (3)

    Live Oak (2)

    Live Oak (1)

         During a misguided period, the city discouraged live oak plantings (thankfully no longer), and for a time London planes (Platanus × acerifolia) were planted along the water. I like two things about these trees: their bark, and their shadows cast on Tuesday's snow.
    Sycamore Shadow

    Sycamore Shadows (2)

         There has been much talk in the gardening blogosphere about learning to appreciate what each season has to offer. With this in mind, I do hope you will make the best of your given circumstances, and join in my Winter Walk-Off this year. As for me, and as much as these wintry scenes might be lovely, I'm beyond ready for warmer weather.
    Thinking of July in February

    42 comments:

    1. Wow! Real winter down south. I love the contrast of the last two photos and the humor of the no fishing/crabbing sign. In Maine people would be ice fishing. I'm game but I'll be on skis or snowshoes. At this rate, we'll still have snow in April.

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      1. Sarah, I've seen people ice fishing, complete with furnished cabins surrounding the hole. It would make me very nervous. A walk-off with skis or snowshoes would be welcome.

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      2. I was out walking on the ice of the lake beside the dog park the other day. Some folks had drilled small fishing ice holes -- the ice was two feet deep !

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    2. Brrrr! You do make all that snow and ice look beautiful, but I'm quite happy to have not seen any myself this year (knocking on wood). Now I must go back and stare at that beautiful crepe myrtle a little while longer...

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      1. Loree, it is lovely isn't it? The tree occupies the very center of one of the neighborhood's traffic circle parks. I love it in all seasons.

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    3. Since I can walk to the Falls, I guess my post counts in your Walk-off. It is the only direction to walk where the scenery is worth photographing. It is snow and more snow. It looks lovely in your area and so are your photos. I am just a snow bunny when it comes to winter. I love being anywhere there is snow.

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      1. Donna, I've been enjoying video footage of Niagra Falls this winter. It would be great if some of your Niagra photos, taken with your careful eye, could join my walk-off this year.

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    4. Oooo, yes, the contrast of the two photos at the end is fabulous. And the Crepe Myrtle in the snow at the beginning. Your surroundings a beautiful in winter, and in every season. I'm hoping a "winter walk-off" post from Florida will fit the meme? If so, I will join in. ;-)

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    5. Beth, I would love to see a Florida walk-off, better yet, I would like to be there myself right now.

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      1. Thank you so much Beth. Part of the reason I do this is to celebrate geographic diversity, so I am more than happy to have a Florida post with lots of foliage, not covered in snow.

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    6. This post is timely because I just posted my winter walk pictures this morning. The pictures are all from our land but not from my garden and definitely show winter in Tennessee! I could actually walk around my area now that we not on such a busy highway anymore and are settled down. Here it is: http://atidewatergardener.blogspot.com/2015/02/winter-walk-off-2015.html As always I love your pictures. That red barked crepe myrtle is stunning in the snow.

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      1. Tina, thanks for being the first official entry in this year's walk-off, and good luck in the prize drawing!

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    7. Those trees! Amazing! And, especially, with the white background! I enjoyed your winter walk-off! We are in the middle of the school basketball play-offs. Maybe, after they end, I'll be able to walk around, too! Have a great weekend, Les!

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      1. Tatyana, I do hope you will participate; I've always enjoyed your photos.

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    8. A snow day forces us too look a little bit closer. The bark of the crapemyrtle in first picture and the Quercus virginians at the second to last are wonderful. I didn’t realize there is an evergreen oak; It almost looks out of place with it’s green canopy.
      You’ll never catch me on ice either! Tidewater will be on a warming trend next week. Hang in there!

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      1. Yes Chavliness, there are a few evergreen oaks. We are at the northern limit here for Quercus virginiana, but being the first place that botanists encountered it, Virginia got the naming rights. It is the same tree seen lining plantation carriage ways dripping with Spanish moss that one imagines from way down south. Unfortunately they rarely get that large here.

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    9. "Live Oak" ? As opposed to a "dead" Oak. Are they called that because they keep their leaves on in the Winter ?

      OK. The pictures a lovely but I gotta tell you I am so frikkin sick of Winter I could SCRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAM !

      Perhaps for the contest I'll just take a picture of a white sheet of paper and tell you that that is what my world looks like ...

      Did I mention ? SCRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEAM !

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      1. Sybil, as to the live oak, I will direct you to read my response to the comment above. As to winter, I am in full agreement with you, only I do know how much more you see of it than I do. As to your white sheet of paper, I accept all entries, but I am sure you can do better than that.

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    10. I wonder how long those people had those snowboards in the back of the closet before they finally hauled them out?

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      1. Jason, this area is full of people from other places, even places where people snowboard. We do have mountains in Virginia, but it requires a minimum 3 hour road trip to get to from here. Perhaps they were planning to attach a tow rope to the bumper.

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    11. Live oaks and snow make a strange juxtaposition. We skirted past disaster by mostly getting sleet rather than freezing rain, although walking on it was hazardous.

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      1. Sweetbay, judging by tonight's newscast, your skirt came up short. Seems like NC got it worse than we did, at least initially. It is snowing tonight with another blast coming tomorrow evening.

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    12. My winter "walk" on skis in Maine: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2015/02/a-winter-dog-walk-on-skis.html

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      1. Thanks once again Sarah. If we get anymore snow, I may have to get my own pair of skis.

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    13. You make winter look beautiful and it really is but I don't miss the long cold! You should be o.k. walking on thick ice as long as you're not playing hockey with the Antichrist. Hint: when you meet someone named Damien with an interesting 666 on his head surrounded by the hounds of hell and he says, "Hey Les, wanna play a little hockey on the river," think of an excuse not to participate. The Omen movies were fun weren't they? Here's my winter walk-off post which looks a bit more spring like. http://www.outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-walk-off-2015.html Happy St. Patrick's day and happy almost spring!

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      1. Thanks for playing along Peter. I remember seeing that movie in the theater, which tells you how old I am, and that scene scared the bejeezus out of me. That was probably where the fear of falling through ice took hold of me.

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    14. Wow, real winter. I had to look at that several times. You've all been probably wearing jackets and hats and gloves. I don't think we've turned on the heat here since 2011.

      I'm happy I managed a walk this year, though it is nothing like winter in appearance.

      http://pieceofeden.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-walk-off-2015.html

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      1. Thank you HB for participating again this year, and I will gladly pop on over to see something not like winter. Ironically it came close to 80 hear today and there is little sign of the snow we saw last month.

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    15. I'm looking forward to warmer, drier weather too. Your pictures made me feel cold. I used to live where it snowed like this all winter, and I don't miss it. My own Winter Walk-Off post is here: http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-walk-by-lake.html

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      1. Alison, I used to live where it didn't snow like this all winter. Ironically I haven't moved in a long time! Thank you for walking with me, I look forward to reading your post.

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    16. Les, I did my winter walk-off indoors this year. I'm a bit of a southern sissy when it comes to these New England winters! Brrr....

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      1. I am glad you were able to play along, and as I said the rules are quite flexible. BTW, spring has just started down here and all the daffodils are are coming up fresh.

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    17. I'm shivering while looking at your snow. Beautiful shots. I used to love the snow when I lived in Idaho. I miss it. Here's my Winter Walk-Off post: http://www.gravylessons.com/journal2/2015/3/18/winter-walk-off-2015

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      1. If I had known how you felt about snow, I would have sent you all of mine. There was way more than I normally like to see. Thank you for walking with me.

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    18. In just under the wire! And this was the year I thought I'd have my contribution up early, where does time go?
      http://www.thedangergarden.com/2015/03/the-last-walk-of-winter-for-les.html

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    19. Getting in by the skin of my teeth. Writing post now. Will add the link in a few. Boy what a difference a month makes. Just looked at your Bloom Day post for March.

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    20. And here is my post. Thanks for hosting this!
      http://thequeenofseaford.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-walk-off-2015.html

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      1. Thanks Janet! You know it would not be the same without you.

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    21. Made it before the deadline (Hawaiian time.) Went through Old Town Alexandria again. It's much more interesting than my neighborhood, and I can walk during lunch hour. Happy spring!
      http://leafychronicles.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-walk-off.html
      --Ray

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      1. Thanks Ray! I am glad you were able to join in again, and I do love Old Town Alexandria.

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