Snow Day!
It snowed 11 inches in Portland on February 22-23, the second heaviest snowfall since weather records began to be kept in 1895.
First row below, left to right:
The summit cedar from Tasmania (Athrotaxus x laxifolia) is no stranger to heavy snows in its highland home. While it can handle snow, it is threatened by increasing wildfires in Tasmania made worse by climate change.
Although a conifer, this dawn redwood loses its needles each fall, making it less vulnerable to breakage under the weight of snow. This particular tree at NE 29th and Ainsworth is just 15 years old but has grown fast with regular summer watering.
This California cypress (Hesperocyparis abramsiana), known as the Santa Cruz cypress, was almost buried in the heavy snow that fell on Feb. 22-23.
The old Norway maples in the Ainsworth median looked fresher with a new coat of snowy white. Unlike in an ice storm, most deciduous trees easily shed the light, powdery snow that fell on Feb. 22-23.
Second row above, left to right (courtesy Lizzy Hildebrand):
Ainsworth Linear Arboretum sign for 2022 planting, wiped clean for viewing
Burgundy Vase Zelkova, wintering strong on 35th and Ainsworth
Winter walk and cross-country ski along the arboretum (thank you for your permission, please reach out and tell us your names!)