It’s been a few years since we have experienced a true Minnesota winter. The last few years we have felt lucky to have a white Christmas. But not this year. Since December first we have received about 9″ of snow. And for about 2 weeks prior to the snow arriving, the temps had dropped off. So the ground was cold enough to keep the snow around for awhile.

Our overnight temperatures are supposed to drop off to about -8F. I’m glad to have the snow cover to insulate young vines and other landscape plants from the bitter cold.  In the last few years without snow our coldest winter lows have been moderated a bit. But once we have some snow on the ground and a cold front blows in from Canada, all bets are off. If the snow stays, I fully expect low temperatures to -30F or lower this season. It will be a good test of the hardiness of our vines.