Friday, February 25, 2011

Belated Bloom Day - February 2011

I had intended to have a post up for February Bloom Day but fate intervened and my dear hubby took another ride in an ambulance to the hospital with pneumonia again on the evening of the 15th.
The pneumonia is gone, I'm extremely thankful to report, but he's still recovering his strength in the hospital and we hope to have him home on Monday. 

On Bloom Day this Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera or Zygocactus) had one bloom open, but now, 10 days later, it's loaded with blooms and is the belle of the ball!

Aren't these flamboyant white blooms, with the touch of fuchsia pink, absolutely glorious? 

Just what we need to brighten these late winter days and remind us that lots of color lies ahead when spring finally breaks through. Posted by Picasa

We've had the worst snow storm today that I've seen all winter.
Last Saturday I drove the 35 minutes to the hospital in very nasty weather...snow and very high winds...scary conditions.
But today I stayed home.
Hubby rested and read a lot....and watched cars sliding up and down the hill opposite the hospital from his 5th floor window view. He was glad I stayed safely at home. So was I!!! We missed our afternoon visit but the roads were just too horrible to risk driving.
We had blowing snow all day, with very low visibility, and ended up with about 9 or 10 inches accumulation, on top of what we already had. I felt very bad for everyone who had to drive in those conditions.

There are quite a few more blooms to show, including the lipstick pink cactus, but they'll have to wait a while. The lovely white cactus deserves a post to itself anyway, for putting on such a beautiful display.

I hope everyone in the path of this latest storm stayed safe.

Remember that Carol of May Dreams Gardens has a long list of bloggers offering their February blooms for your enjoyment. Just click the link to see them.



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Remember the Color?

With nothing but a vast expanse of white covering the garden and surrounding countryside for weeks on end here in upstate NY I've turned to the computer for solace. It's not that I don't find the snowy scenes beautiful to look at, but sorting through last year's garden photos has been a wonderful spirit lifter and has fed my craving for color. 
A myriad photos were left unposted so I thought I'd share a few with you, as you just might be suffering from color deprivation too if, like me, you live in a cold climate. 


Only about five more weeks and spring will be here!


Crocuses will open their lovely blooms to the sunshine about the time of the vernal equinox. 

 


The kitties can't wait to spend time outside in the warm air.
Jasmine spends a lot of time dreaming as she looks out the window....when she's not sleeping. 


I can't wait to see the bees again!


Daffodils and Scilla will follow closely around the beginning of April.


And we'll see that glorious afternoon light shining through their yellow petals.
(Now I'm humming "These are a few of my favorite things". See what I mean? Aren't you beginning to feel better?) Posted by Picasa


We'll see pale yellow Primroses!


Hyacinths with their sweet perfume.
Tree climbing weather!


Hannah will again be my shadow...tiptoeing through the tulips.

Love those pinks and purples! Posted by Picasa


There will be green pastures as far as the eye can see.


 


And bold Tulips reaching for the sun. Posted by Picasa


Crabapple blossoms to delight the eye.


 


 


Fences to delight Hannah! Posted by Picasa

 
Bleeding Hearts, Arabis, Hostas and Forget-me-nots....


....soft spring pastels.


The delicious scent......


.....of Lilacs.


Lipstick pink tulips mixed with white....


....and a few other sunshine colors. Posted by Picasa


Poppies following shortly after.
Their fern-like leaves are lovely with the tulips.


Creeping Phlox are perfect with the soft pink tulips.


Poet's Daffodil...exquisite. Posted by Picasa


Pansies - pretty, smiling faces.


Columbines will fill the Fence Garden.....


....along with lovely white Lupines.


Purple Lupines will stretch toward the sky in the Driveway Garden. Posted by Picasa


Elegant Irises will bloom beside Columbines in the Lilac Garden. 


Foxglove will make fairy hats.


Peige and Phoebe will venture from the barn to follow me through the garden and sit on the Lily Garden fence
where
Catchfly and Siberian Iris will bloom again, hopefully with an overwintered snapdragon, as they did last year.
(click on the photo to enlarge)


Tiger Swallowtail butterflies will enjoy the Catchfly and then lead me on a merry chase. Posted by Picasa

Ah, yes, I remember the color well.

We have so much to look forward to!
Just keep dreaming for a few more weeks.....