This photograph was taken before the rain. It is raining pretty hard. I can hear geese flying overhead. Apparently they don't mind getting wet. Rain will take away the snow and more of the garden will begin to show. Of course the soil is way to wet to do anything, but with Ed's stone paths we can walk in the garden and inspect everything. Probably the glimpse will be brief because I know we haven't seen our last snow storm. I can remember a snowstorms in mid- May here. Still it's great to get a chance to look in on old plant friends and make plans . Finally February is finished for another year!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Spring Thyme and Stones
This photograph was taken before the rain. It is raining pretty hard. I can hear geese flying overhead. Apparently they don't mind getting wet. Rain will take away the snow and more of the garden will begin to show. Of course the soil is way to wet to do anything, but with Ed's stone paths we can walk in the garden and inspect everything. Probably the glimpse will be brief because I know we haven't seen our last snow storm. I can remember a snowstorms in mid- May here. Still it's great to get a chance to look in on old plant friends and make plans . Finally February is finished for another year!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Spring's There Under The Snow!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Growing Between A Rock and A Hard Place
The sun is out and the weather is warming a bit. The north side of the house is dripping. I wandered around looking for something interesting to photograph. Over on the south facing hill there are many surface stones that have been in place for a long time. I find the plants that grow directly on stones without benefit of soil fascinating. The growth on this stone reminds me of a coral reef.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Last Of The Copras
It's a sunny , blue sky day. With the new snow it's downright dazzling out there. Right now there are drips from the eaves on the south side of the house, but nothing yet on the north side. Perhaps this afternoon the temperature will creep above freezing and melt some more snow.
Ed just came in from outside. Soup's on!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Another Snowy Day
Looking across the valley to the north it is windy, snowy and cold. The far hill on the other side of the valley is obscured by falling snow. We spent considerable time watching a hawk in the Norwegian spruce trees. Shielded from the north wind, the beautiful hawk sat in the tree puffed up with her white and tawny feathers blowing up like Marilyn Monroe's skirt. I watched through the binoculars until she flew away. The bird is in the picture if you can find it. Later in the day different hawk was sitting in the same spot. It must be a prime perch! It has the comfort of a stand of spruce trees for shelter with a wide angle and long distance view.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Looking In On The Plant Infirmiry
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Warm Enough For Walls
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hummingbird Futures
Sunday, February 15, 2009
It's 10:00 AM. Do You Know Where You Are?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A Southern Exposure
Today is a beautiful sunny day. It's still cold, but the warmth of the sun is growing stronger. A red tail hawk screeched from overhead, and we stopped to watch her soar upward into the blue sky on the rising air currents. It's so good to be able to play outside again, if only for a short time!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Just a Hint of Spring
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Brown Grass and Mud... WooHoo!
What an incredible improvement from yesterday! Ed spent most of yesterday working on the driveway. First he spread dark sand so the the sun could heat it up to melt down into the ice. Once the ice was pitted he had a chance to break it up and push it to the side with his shovel or his tractor. Mother Nature was on his side this time.The warmer temperatures and Ed's persistence changed yesterday's glacier into this lovely broken- up ice and mud.
I had a special surprise today. We stopped to pick up the mail and I thought I saw a bluebird sitting on the barbed wire fence. We came up the driveway and indeed there was a flock of male bluebirds making their first, but oh- so- very -welcome appearance here. Now that's what I call a harbinger of spring.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Luge Anyone?
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Signs of Spring
We have been watching the weather forecasts in breathless anticipation looking for readings above freezing. This week we got a break. At last today the water is beginning to run. It 's flowing down the driveway and spreading out on the snow changing its color. We need several days of this to actually make a difference. It would be great if it would stay warm overnight. When the temperature drops at night things refreeze and are more slippery than ever.
I like to look on this as sign of spring. We have seen a few. No woodchucks casting shadows mind you. We haven't seen hide nor hair of them. We did see a dead possum alongside the road. Of course it was that unmistakable aroma and the dead skunk in the middle of the road that clinched it. The deep sleepers are on the prowl. Spring must be just around the corner.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Just A Trim Please
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Too Much Temptation
I must tell you I have never heard of this place before, but I have high hopes and expectations . Anyway, I love to get a box of plants in April. It's part of the thrill of spring gardening.
Monday, February 2, 2009
One Day's Difference
The profile of these wall snow caps was isosceles trapezoids yesterday morning. Their upper base was only slightly shorter than the lower base. Then a rare thing happened. A strong sun filled the afternoon sky and the temperature climbed above freezing for the first time in weeks. Dark stones absorbed the sun's heat and there was snow melt. The temperature fell back below freezing by sunset and ice crystals formed. I can see an ocean wave crashing toward the beach in the snow's profile. It is February and I clearly need some time in the sun.
Here is a written summary of the past month's weather here. Snow cover was continuous for January 2009. Daytime temperature remained below freezing for thirty days last month. There were several snow storms. One storm included ice and freezing rain. The ice accumulation was insufficient to take out the electric power but the ice remains in place. Our driveway has varied from a rink smooth ice coating to slick ice covered thinly with snow. The snow cover protected the plants from the subzero temperatures. The long period of cold could make for an excellent maple sugar season.
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