Second Fall

This marks the second time I've had snow on the ground this winter. The first was in late November, if memory serves, and it was only about a third as much as what you see here. Kinda pitiful, ain't it? Nor has it been particularly cold, other than a week when nighttime temps were in the low 20s, but I won't complain on that point. Snow, however, is another matter. Many native plants (especially alpine species) require a period of absolute darkness to flourish. When snowpack is low, light can penetrate the cover and affect the plants' natural cycles even though it occurs in minimal amounts. The growing period which follows may see fewer blooms and diminished seed setting and/or viability.