Winter's arrival

Winter seems to have arrived here today. To me it seems like appropriate weather for the first day of January. The wind is whipping around at 17mph with gusts up to 35mph. Brrrrr is all I can say for it.

I got out this morning and cleaned out the water feature. I can say that the birds are very thankful that they have some clean water. I don't know how long it will be open because of this cold west wind blowing snow flurries around. The wind chill is 12F so that should tell ya that it is cold out there. I know this doesn't impress you people up north with your minus degree weather but it sure feels cold to me. The rabbits foot fern near the water feature is still clinging to life here on this log. I am so happy it has lasted this long. I thought it would be gone the first frost but here it is the first of January and it is alive.

I made it a blanket of pine needles and leaves. I hope to encourage it to live until spring. I don't know if this will hep it but I just had to try to save it.Another fern in my garden that doesn't give up easily is the Autumn Fern. It is in a rather sheltered place but it is still looking good considering the conditions. I would like to plant several more of these around the water feature. They would replace the rather non discript hostas that are now planted in this area. These hostas are ancient. Some of the first I had in a garden long ago and far from here. Their best quality are the blooms that are so fragrant. They are also tough as nails. They hardly whimpered through the drought this summer.

A couple other ferns are still showing some green in the garden. The Christmas fern and (?). Here I am reminded on one of my goals. Keep better records so I sort of sound like I know what I have here.

The Ostrich fern leaves its fertile fronds behind for winter interest.

I have quite a few more ferns I will show you this spring when they start showing their fiddleheads. It is difficult to think about this with the snow flurries blowing around. It won't be long though.