The weekend storm brought ice to the Powell Gardens vicinity and we were thankful it ended when it did. Any more ice load and we would have had major damage to trees! The ice storm created a beautiful and ephemeral landscape so I raced out to capture it in the morning sun before the ice dissipates.
The North Side of the Visitor Center shows magnolias (center) and holly (right) encased in ice, frozen in time and just at their breaking point.
The conifer garden looks great etched in ice, most of these plants are designed to handle large ice and snow loads.
The butterfly bench appears to take flight on this magical day.
I was the first to walk the dogwood walk through the grove of native trees east of the Visitor Center.
The Swamp White Oak at the hairpin curve of the dogwood walk survived the catastrophic ice storm of 2002 and looks extra beautiful with its 2010 ice load.
The entrance to the Island Garden lines up with the Meadow Pavilion on the far hill and almost looks like a black & white photograph today.
The Island Garden Arbor and dock
When I stopped to take a photo across the lake a flock of nervous Greater White-fronted Geese took off and added to the composition! (The local tame Canada Geese just stayed put on the lake, outside the photograph)
The walk to the chapel through the woods takes on a whole new feel etched in ice and snow.
The chapel looms beautifully at the end of the walk, we seldom show an image of it flocked in snow.
The wave of prairie grasses encased in ice on the meadow that sweeps from the chapel to the meadow pavilion glistens in the morning sun.
This Japanese Tree Lilac, flocked in ice and snow by Mother Nature almost looks surreal with the backdrop of dark Virginia Pines.
The bench that commemorates Dr. Norlan Henderson looks over iris hill. It won't be long and we will be amazed that this icy landscape existed. In about 10-12 weeks this hill will be ablaze with the blooms of Merit winning Tall Bearded Iris.