Well, we finally got a good snow storm this morning. Here are some shots of my garden.

The side yard. If you look closely, you can see the Neofinetia and Dendrobiums I have growing on the plum tree:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/SnowyMorning.jpg

Here is the cold hardy tree fern Dicksonia antarctica covered in snow:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/DicksoniaSnow.jpg

And another cold hardy tree fern, Cyathea australis:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/AustralisSnow.jpg

A large Neofinetia. Looks strange, doesn't it?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/NeoSnow-1.jpg

An assortment of Neofinetia and Dendrobium moniliforme:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/NeoSekkokuSnow.jpg

The snow is mostly gone now (10:45PM), but the temperatures have not improved. Currently it is -1C outside and it should drop a couple more degrees by morning. That will push a few my plants to their limits, but not any I've shown here. I'm particularly worried about a couple Sederia japonica I'm testing outside. Will they live through the night? Who knows!

Tom

Great photos and hope your plants make it through the night! I have never seen fern covered with snow before. Here in Maine, all the ferns start hibernating in the fall.

very beautiful foto

I didn't know that Neofinitia could stand frost, nor D. moniliforme. I'll have to get these to put in my basement window (unheated but frost-free)...that will expand my growing space tremendously...know of any other really cold tolerant orchid (say 5 C)?

Brrr! Just looking at the pics makes me feel so cold...great pics :cool:

wow beautiful photos!

Beautiful winter scenes!

Great photos Tom! I hope your orchids survive this little bit of snow.

Nice bamboo fence behind that fern btw. :)

Tom, your garden is beautiful in any season, as shown by your lovely photos.

I wouldn't dare leave out any orchids here in Michigan's Winter.

Everything looks so sleepy and beautiful! I would sure enjoy the cold here if we could also have some pretty snow. All we get is yucky ice and rain.:mad:

Thanks for the kind comments guys. The snow was all but gone this morning although that is not typical for this region. People in their 30's and older all say that snow was much more common 25 years ago and that it could last even for days at a time. Not so anymore. Japan has "warmed up" considerably in a very short time. The summer temperatures too have become warmer. These days summer days almost always reach over 85F, but just a couple decades ago this was an occasional event. Today however remains quite cool, right around 38F.

Todd, yes there are other epiphytic orchids that can take freezing or near freezing temperatures. There are four species that grow here locally, the Neofinetia and Dendrobium, plus also Thrixspermum jaoonicum and Gastrochilus matsuran. Many Cymbidiums can handle those temps as well, and some of those are epiphytic. Some Pleione also are epiphytes and can handle cold as well. In North America one of the most cold hardy epiphytic orchids can be found on the east and gulf coasts, Epidendrum magnoliae (AKA E. conopseum). It is found up to southeastern North Carolina where cold snaps can be in the low teens!

Teresa, we usually only get cold rain and ice, but from time to time we'll get a pretty snow. This year we've seen almost no snow at all.

Tom

Here's a shot off a local mountain a couple days after Christmas:

Snowy Mountain (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/HomanWinter.jpg)

Tom

Sooooooo pretty!

*kicks herself for not taking up a friend's offer to go visit her in Japan*

Tom,

beautiful photography as always! I love the picture with the neofinetia covered in snow! Global warming has showed a change in Japan long before it hit the states here. Kyoto used to get snow as well, but now that's almost unheard of. I think it snowed twice in the 2 years I lived there, and each time it melted as soon as it hit the ground.

The best thing to do when you get that beautiful fluffy snow is sit outside and drink some hot sake!

Well how are the Sedireas???? I love the yard pictures thanks! My Neos have gotten down into the 40's at night in a protected porch area. They have shown no signs of harm.

Thanks Tom, I've made a note of those hardy ones and will keep my eyes open.

Last pic is spectacular...thnx

Well how are the Sedireas???? I love the yard pictures thanks! My Neos have gotten down into the 40's at night in a protected porch area. They have shown no signs of harm.

Hey Tadd! The Sedirea still are alive. If I can keep them going to March they should be out of the woods for this winter anyway. I've kept my potted one outside all winter as well, but in a minigreenhouse where it has had to endure ambient temperatures near or even below freezing on many nights. The trick is to keep them damn dry during these times. The ones out on the plum tree are in the full elements - winter sun, rain, wind, and snow.

Your neos should laugh at temperatures in the 40's, even if those are the high temperatures! They really are stout plants. The more you give them a true winter rest, the more vigorous they grow in spring. Mine explode into growth (especially roots) once the warm of mid April hits. Quite a sight to see!

Thanks Tom. I especially like the photos of the neos in snow as well.

Cold!!! I need some snow here in Reno. Its getting hot here!!

Ramon:D