Winter surprises

This little wren was peeking into my window this morning looking as if to say "why don't you come out?".  So that is what I decided to do.  I got my coat on and mushed out to see how things were faring in our garden.

I found that the hellebores were in something of a pout what with the cold and scattering of snow.

The Autumn Fern was in complete agreement with the hellebores about how awful the weather had turned. With the temperatures dipping and the wind blowing. Brrrr

One surprise I found was this bit of Helichruysum thianschanicum that is an annual here.  It has survived when all the rest in the pot long ago sucumbed to the weather.  This licorice plant is aptly named 'Icicles'.  I will think of other places to plant it next spring.  It has held up to the drought in summer and now the cold temps. It will be intersting to see just how long it survives.

Another surprise I found was the Meadow Rue that still shows a bit of green.  It is usually down for the count by this time.

Another little shot of color comes from this Carex. Its yellow stripes are shining in the gloom.

Are there any surprises in your winter garden? I hope you all have a wonderful week.

First Day of Spring

What a difference a day makes. Spring decided to enter into our area with sunshine, blue skies and warm temps. Believe me it was much appreciated after the past few days. The garden has fairly well drained. Just a little water in the back corner but that is to be expected. Just look how green the grass is after all of the rain.Despite the frost that covered everything this morning we had a nice little addition to the blooms in the garden. This hellebore has opened some of its lovely little blooms. Doesn't that blue sky make your heart go pitty patter. After days of gray I can't tell you how much I appreciate these blue skies.

As you can see in the closeup it has freckles. Isn't it a little cutie?? Some of the daylilies have jumped up. These are at least 6 inches tall.

The white crocus has opened. I think they are such a beautiful color of white.

On the other end of the color wheel we have black mud, and lots of it. The only tracks I could find were dog tracks. Small dog tracks and...

Large dog tracks. Unfortunately you can find these same tracks in the house on the white carpet. UGH

I want to leave you with a happier thought on this first day of spring. Just look at this Hellebore that the was stompted into the ground by the removal of the downed pine trees. It has sprouted up a big new leaf and there are several smaller leaves making their way into the sunshine. there is even a bud or two trying to form.

This poor little Hellebore won't give up so all of us fighting the elements must do the same. Don't give up. Brighter, warmer days will be aplenty soon.

Sunny Skies and a Walk at the Park

Let me just tell you it has been the most beautiful day today. The sun was out all day and we are going to do our first grilling of the year. WHoooo hooooo..... You can see that we have tulips poking up around the welcome sign. I have several of these types of stones around the garden. They were all given to me by friends and family.

My first helebore blossom is trying its best to open today I doubt if it makes it but maybe tomorrow if the sun is out again we will have our first bloom.

The Naked Ladies are sending up their greenery. I didn't remember that they came up at the same time as the daffodils but they are this year. It is odd how they greenery shows up and then disappears. I always think I will seperate them and plant some elsewhere in the garden but I never get around to doing it. I forget all about them when they die down.

The Maple tree is blooming up a storm. It will soon be throwing its pollen all over the place and I will be sneezing.

The yellow crocus are popped up everywhere now and are blooming their sweet little faces off. We even have greenery of the purple ones up today. It won't be long and we will have some purple blooms.

Although I have been ballyhooing about the bright sunshine and warming in our garden when we took Luna to the park we found that winter has not loosed his grip. Not much was popping up other than a few more humans at the park. This must be a sign of spring too as we are usually the only people here during winter.

The only good thing about Luna's heart conditon that I have found so far is that it appears that we will have a little slower pace going through the woods now. It seems that smells have overtaken her drive. I don't mind this because we will have more time to look around.

I will talk at ya later. I gotta go get the grill fired up. My Dearly Beloved has offered to make his Italian Burgers. Yummm My mouth is watering just thinking about them.