" If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. "
~ Anne Bradstreet
A redwinged blackbird fluffs his wings and chirrs in the silver maple.
A male house sparrow sings in the same tree.
Mr. and Mrs. House Sparrow go house hunting.
The bright red buds of the silver maple open. 
Last week brought glorious sunshine, warmer temperatures
and bees to the diminutive snowdrop blooms.
This week brought snow on Wednesday morning...
....and bright sunshine in the afternoon.
"First a howling blizzard woke us,
then the rain came down to soak us,
and now before the eye can focus...
Crocus!"
~ Lilja Rogers
(it wasn't actually a howling blizzard, just a dusting, and the soaking rain came the day before the snow).
The purples by the house were warmer...
...and the snow melted away from them quickly, but I didn't catch them open that afternoon. I hoped to catch them today but the wind was bitter and the sun didn't warm the air enough to entice those little blooms to open.
I hope the warm sunshine returns soon
to open those pretty petals.
They're with us so briefly
and we've waited so long.
We love to see those lovely yellow stamens when the blooms are not tightly wrapped around them.
One lonely little bright yellow Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) has appeared from seeds given to me by my friend, Liz last summer. It would've been lovely to have them all make seedlings but I'm happy just to have one.
Speaking of yellow, the male goldfinches are beginning to don their summer finery and chickadees are even more friendly lately.
Grackles are back with the redwings and cowbirds.
The cats are loving the sunshine!
Cleo gives herself a morning bath....
Cleo gives herself a morning bath....
...then dozes, soaking up the warm rays.
(this was last week before Old Man Winter crept back for a rematch).
(this was last week before Old Man Winter crept back for a rematch).
I call this photo "Enthusiasm".
Inside the house this small piece of cactus, which broke off the main plant, has been living in a glass of water for months, but that didn't stop it from blooming.
(I can't throw pieces of plants away. Someone will want that! Now I must plant the poor thing in some dirt).
"The sun streams through the window pane
My heart begins to sing,
A certain stirring in the air and suddenly it's Spring!"
~Kathleen Gillum
Ready to sing now?
"What a day for a daydream
what a day for a daydreamin' boy
And I'm lost in a daydream
dreamin' bout my bundle of joy
And even if time ain't really on my side
it's one of those days for takin' a walk outside.
I'm blowin' the day to take a walk in the sun
and fall on my face on somebody's new-mowed lawn."
~ Lovin' Spoonful
27 comments:
Dear Kerri
Spring is full of promises and sometimes teases us. Snow or rain in the mornings and sunshine in the afternoons, this is typical for our region too. But we gardeners are patient people aren't we ;-) !! At least we already got the first Spring harbingers and we are enjoying them.
Have a wonderful and sunny weekend (I do not dare to send you our rain we actually have ;-) !).
Barbara
This post is so full of spring time that it almost burst off my computer. So glad to see spring finally got to your part of the world. Isn't it wonderful!. I have about the same luck with winter aconites. They don't last long here for some reason. I have a piece of a plant in water that will go outside this summer. Like you I hate to throw away a piece that breaks off. Well, just look at this bloom. It is gorgeous, how could you throw away something that promises this? I will be singing all day now. What a day...
Thanks for sharing! The cats are (and I) are loving the sunshine!
Kerri, what lovely prose, poetry and photos! The awakening in spring is just magical. I hope the cold blows on out and spring stays.
Have a wonderful day!
This post cheered me considerably, Kerri. Love the quotes, and the photos, especially the shots of the snowdrops in the snow, and the red-winged blackbird in the silver maple.
We had far less sun than rain and snow this week, as you can see by my post, but I still share your enthusiasm for spring!
Kerri, Lovely crocus~~They sure are essential beauties in four season gardens. Don't you love the way they protect themselves from really cold weather.
"The sun streams through the window pane My heart begins to sing,
A certain stirring in the air and suddenly it's Spring!"
Is the perfect quote for the season. I hope the weekend is warm and beckons you to the garden. gail
I love the poems Mum, and your crocuses look beautiful. Hooray for snowdrops and kitties!
I fear I'm going to miss my crocus this year as I won't be back home til mid April, but I'll be on the lookout for all the new arrivals after that.
The quote at the start of this post always make me think. I long to live in a warm tropical climate, where things bloom all winter. But would I really appreciate the glory of an awakening spring if I did? A warm spring day when flowers begin to bloom is heaven on earth to me! Would I appreciate it so much if winter didn't come before it?
Kerri my goodness yo are way ahead of me here : )
All the flowers are so bright and cheerful .. and yes .. it doesn't seem fair that they don't stay very long is it ?
Cleo with her morning bath is perfect : )
We are waiting for our Goldfinches to show up too .. but it turned so cold lately they probably said "forget it !" haha
I loved all of your quotes, especially the very first one. Glad to see Spring is arriving there. I enjoyed all your pictures, the one of Cleo bathing cracked me up :)
It is all so beautiful Kerri. Isn't it amazing, the tough resilience of those delicate little blooms?
Spring is so full of hope.
Kerri:
Wonderful that Spring in here. Thanks for the pictures.
Your clumps of crocus and snowdrops are so beautiful, Kerri - and so happy looking...they'll show that golden yellow Aconite what to do now that it's landed in your garden.
I hope that's the last of your snow and that spring is with you now.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Amazing to see how dramatically the plants change at this time of year.
Beautiful pictures!
Indulging in a little poetic licence, I see, but who can blame you after waiting so long for signs of life and cheering colours giving promise of things to come.....like digging, dividing, planting, staking, pruning, mulching, feeding, watering, weeding, photographing....are you tired yet, Kerri?....lol.
What pleasure awaits you in the coming months of enjoyment in your beautiful garden, and we can sit back (just a little) and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
It's worth having winter here just so that we can enjoy your summer garden.
Love and hugs to you and Ross.
Goodmorning Kerri,
so enjoyed your comments this morning. Thank you.
Snowdrops do look best as a clump in snow. And the sun on the white crocus makes a beautiful image.
Although I agree with the quote that says contrast livens things up, I can't help thinking: Does it have to be so sharp?
And after a few warm days the cold must be harder to bear. Still, only a matter of weeks now.
Know what? I am not partial to birds, mostly because apart from kites and pigeons, I can never see them properly, but this morning I actually witnessed a goldcrest working on her nest. Thrilling. Wish I had your camera skills.
Why plant that brilliant piece of cactus in dirt???
Thank your for the guided tour.
Hope you have even more for bloomday.
We have the redwing blackbirds back too. I enjoy their songs.
Our weather is suppose to be very nice for the next week. Hope it is headed your way.
Marnie
Dear Kerri, your posts always touch our souls ... you have a gift! Easter Blessings, dear friend.
I just got back from my morning walk and saw all the same birds and flowers--except for the redwing blackbird - I hear 'em, but don't see 'em! I'm glad they're back!
I'm exactly the same about throwing bits of plant away. Can't do it. Have far too many plants as a consequence.
I found that Anne Bradstreet quotation when searching for inspiration for my church mag editorial last month, and I used it. It's so true. Mind you, winter has returned to us too and after a while AB's wise words start losing their efficacy!
Love the birds. I wish I knew more about my neighborhood birds. And the Lovin Spoonful is my kind of poetry.
Loved your post ... it really celebrates the arrival of your spring. Gorgeous blackbird ... beautiful snowdrops and crocus ... and I enjoyed the poetic words along the way.
I thought I had commented on this post but apparently not.
Your flowers are so pretty Kerri and Spring is such an exciting time.
I had to smile when you were telling about your Orchid Cactus. I do the same thing when a piece breaks off of any of my plants. I just have to save it. As a result there are usually several water glasses and canning jars with a piece of this or that growing roots, and sometimes the roots have become do long they curl around and around.
Thank you for a lovely post. I have enjoyed this visit to your gardens.
Thanks also for the help you gave me with my blog. I think it's all straightened out now.
Great photos! Happy Easter, Kerri!
wasn't it a glorious easter today! hope you had a great day!
I'm glad to see others 'can't throw away plants', Kerri. I do the same thing, and my Epiphyllum is also blooming right now. It's so good to see the sun chase away the snow and bring us a real respite from winter, isn't it?
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