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When the thaw finally sets in

The air is filled with the continual tinkle and crash of ice falling down from the trees and bushes. Slowly the berries shed their coats and the buds come out from their ice scales.

twig with melt drops?

The thaw comes, but it takes time to melt all of that ice.

Clear water drips down from each bud and stem. The augustinii branch on the right started out almost upright before the ice came.

Whole casings of ice break away from twigs and pile inches deep on the ground below trees and bushes.

 drooping dripping R. augustinii
twigs breaking out of the casing cranberry viburnum betties
ice cap ice cap with drip
Ice drips off the bottom of the buds, leaving thimble helmets coating the top of the bud The clear ice acts like a magnifying lens, making the stem and bud appear larger or smaller depending of the viewing angle
ice cast of pine needles Ice peels off in sheets and patterns. More ice fragments can be sen on the ground below the tree.  
another drip larger, this would make a great scepter
berry almost ready to eat

After the ice melts off, birds and animals can access their food supplies again.

Note the melting sequence in the next 5 pictures
disappearance of the ice dodo part 1 disappearance of the ice dodo part 2
disappearance of the ice dodo part 3 disappearance of the ice dodo part 4
All the ice gone, the freed bud will await either the spring flowering season, or possibly the next snow and ice storm all gone and back to normal

But Wait. That's not all! There's more to come!

but not yet

It's not even half-way through the month of January 2004, not even into the heart of winter. Some more interesting weather lies ahead, more changes for the winter garden.

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