I think I prefer picture #2 as well. We are up to about -8 Celsius with the possibility of temperatures above 0 degrees Cesius. Very warm for this time of the year for us (better than the last couple of weeks around -40). The days are getting longer and i'll start planning my garden soon.
not much better in the Northeast...Brrrrrrrrrrr Got my car stuck in a snow bank and on ice the other night. Thought I would get frostbite before I finally got myself free.