Tree Planting in Snow

It has been intensely frustrating, having cancelled our tree planting weekend, not being able to get all the trees in the ground.  Today we were able to put in another few, two families arriving with snow on the ground, to find the burial ground on a day when it felt as beautiful as it does in the height of summer.

Just an inch or so of snow, crispy with frost, the temperature around -3 degrees C, under the surface the earth was still deliciously soft and almost warm. Tonight temperatures are due to plummet to well below zero with a foot of snow, and the forecast anticipates no rise above zero for some days, so there’ll be no planting for a while, I suspect.

Over the last week, however, we were able to plant around 20 memorial trees, and with the help of a friend visiting from the United States (where 15 foot of snow is not unusual – thank you, Kevin) we were able to get in all the saplings around the war memorial.  We’ve used low tree guards in many plantings this year, and will see how they fare with the deer.

The trees around the pond have yet to be planted, but we are hoping now for a break in the weather between Christmas and the New Year to get these in and the majority of our other memorial trees.  Not only are some families more available at this time, but we also have access to more volunteers.

This evening as we left the burial ground, with clear skies and the moon above, snow on the ground, the setting sun shone golden.  It was quite breathtaking.

Sunset on Snow and Bench

Sunset on Snow and Bench