Snow!

So, last night we were driving home from our friends' house and I was sorta looking out the window, but not really, and then all of a sudden, I realized that there was snow on the ground and on the trees. We were still about forty minutes away from home, heading north-east, so I could only imagine what we would find when we arrived home. Sure enough, we had snow, too!



Of course, this morning I (and Julie) had to go out and take pictures. Everything is so different in the snow. Cleaner and fresher. And the architectural-ness of plants and objects is emphasized by the whiting out of color.



I like my birdbath in the snow. But, then again, I like my birdbath all the time.



I do think color is important in the snow, though. For example, look how gorgeous the red hips of the Ballerina rose are in the snow. And I love seeing the Cardinals in the snow.



The white of the snow also shows off the blue of my treasured pot filled with Johnnies.



The Johnnies in a flowerbed have been all but covered in the snow. But don't you just love the blue and white together?


Have a beautiful day!

Beauty in the snow...

Well, it snowed almost four inches yesterday and last night. The trees and branches were so beautiful this morning, but it is melting quickly. That's o.k. Living almost all my life in California makes me so much much more comfortable with the warm and dry than the cold and wet. Also, I'm just dying to be able to work in my garden and the snow and the continual mud of the red clay is making that a little difficult.




Henry and Lily don't look quite as white against the snow. It is really funny to watch ducks in the snow. Rain, they just love, but snow is a whole different matter.




My yellow crocus is almost buried in snow and hasn't bloomed yet. But I found another bit of color this morning. A camellia bud is starting to show its pink. It won't be long, now, until spring gets here. And I can hardly wait!


Have a beautiful day!

Snowing again...

Yesterday, I saw a Forsythia blooming in somebody's yard in a neighboring town. Today, it snowed again. Go figure. I have to add, though, that the snow didn't stick and it has already melted.




Every place I went today, I looked at seeds and plants. Can you believe I didn't come home with any plants? What's that you say? I must not be feeling well? Now that you mention it, I don't feel well, but I do think I am starting to get over my cold. Maybe the Cardamine I ate yesterday helped. Even though I didn't buy any plants, I found some more seed packets to add to my collection. A couple of tomatoes and an okra. Yes, okra. Even though I don't like okra (gasp!), I feel obligated to try to grow it since I live in the South now.


Have a beautiful day!

Snowy vignettes...

Today is cold and dark and drizzly. It is the kind of day that makes me think that winter will last FOREVER. Even the snow doesn’t seem very pretty, only frozen and dreary.

{Vinca minor}

Yesterday, though, in the sun, the snow appeared much more cheerful. My little hummingbird wind chime stood out in all the white. A couple of years ago, I decided it needed more color, so I added the glass beads. I did have it adorning a pot, but I redid the pot and it has been in the ground for months now. It hangs on small shepherd's crook sort of thing.



Now here is a cozy way to spend the winter, completely oblivious to all that is going on while waiting (and waiting and waiting) for spring to come. I have lots of them all over the garden. If you don't know what this is, leave a comment for me and I will tell you in a comment, so be sure to check back.

{Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis 'Nanho Blue'}

Of course, you knew I would put in a photo of my ever-joyful Johnnies. The snow and chilly temperatures don't bother them a bit. Oh, that I could feel the same way.

{Viola tricolor}

Apparently, Tiger likes Johnnies as well as I do. Maybe for a different reason, though.


Have a beautiful day!

More snow...

So, what is there to say about more snow? Friday night and Saturday, over 8 inches of snow fell on our property. This morning, the thermometer read 9 degrees. That’s pretty chilly for a Southern California gal! The little birds didn’t mind tip-toeing in the snow and cold on my front steps, though.




The snow dusted the Johnnies on my porch.




I threw out extra bird seed for the birds and they came to my deck by the dozens and dozens! I love watching them. There were Titmice (is that the plural of Titmouse?), Chickadees, Juncos, Purple Finches, Gold Finches, a Towhee, a Bluebird, Cardinals, Sparrows and Blue Jays. Most of them behaved courteously, but the Blue Jays would scare everybody else away.




And sometime the Juncos didn’t want to share their space. But I think everyone got plenty to eat. The "snow cone" has yellow Johnnies and blue Muscari planted in it.

(How many birds can you count? Nope. No prize for the right answer.)

The snow sparkles so beautifully when the sun comes out. I actually captured the glints in this picture. In case you can’t tell, snow has been a rarity in my life.




These Johnnies are a little more exposed than the ones on my porch, but thankfully they weren’t completely buried so I can still enjoy them while I continue to wait for spring.




And wait. And wait. And wait.


Have a beautiful day!

A package...

Yesterday a package arrived in the mail. A weighty, crumpled box was handed to me, with a "Look out! It's heavy!" I, of course, quickly cut the straps and slit the layers of tape to find out what awaited me inside. Oh!!! It was the perfect thing for this week-end, since the weather forecast is calling for up to a foot of snow.




In my box was a whole stack of garden magazines! What more could you ask for on a cold, snowy winter day? Beautiful, beautiful pictures of brilliant, sunny, perfect gardens, inspiring me for my own garden, reminding me that, yes, one day, there will be green leaves and blooming flowers again.




All I have to do now is sit by the fire, sipping hot chocolate and slowly page through these gorgeous magazines. What? Oh, that’s right. Along with that stunning front porch that I don’t have, I also don’t have a fireplace. (What was I thinking when we bought this house???) Well, even though I don’t have a fireplace, and I don’t actually drink hot chocolate, I do have the lovely magazines that I will thoroughly enjoy.




In one of the magazines (I peeked already), I found this tidbit of information: “Women who were given flowers as part of a 2005 study by researchers at Rutgers University reported elevated moods for up to three days after receiving the bouquets. Those given fruit or candles reported no such change.” (Martha Stewart Living, March 2009, page 29)




So, thank you to that dear, special, wonderful person who sent me a bouquet of garden magazines in the middle of winter. You are a fine friend and a sweet sister.


Have a beautiful day!

Receding snowline...

The snow has been stunningly beautiful. It makes everything so clean and bright and wonderful, with all the clutter and busy-ness hidden away underneath it. I must say, though, it does make things trickier. Like walking across the garden. And backing out of the driveway. But who am I to complain? What is a mere 6 inches?




But now it is slowly disappearing, revealing some of my plants. The little pockets that show up in the snow are charming, like geodes, a window showing a different place. My lamb's ear plant seems to be curled up beneath its blanket, just waiting.




It is good to see the color of my Johnnies and Purple Rain pansies again. Although, when all the whiteness is gone, then I will have to face the grey and dark of winter. Well, except for the Johnnies.


Have a beautiful day!

Wonder...

I fell in love. It was instantaneous, deep, passionate and lasting. It was incredible. I saw my first snowflake. Yes, I have seen snow before – even when living in Southern California. I have seen snow falling, ridden through snow, played in the snow, gone skiing, etc., but I have never before seen an actual, true snowflake.




Friday and Saturday, seven inches of snow fell on our property, which is rare in this area. It was so beautiful to watch it drifting down and to see it accumulate. It piled itself on my flower pots and outlined the lacey designs on the trees and shrubs. It accented the bird tracks and kitty footprints. It showed off the birds looking for seeds in my garden.





But the most amazing thing was seeing a genuine snowflake. It was exquisite, this little bit of breathtaking ice that had tumbled through the atmosphere to steal my heart.


Have a beautiful day!