Kaseys Korner

Springs magic spell

has woven a cocoon of enchantment around this eager gardener.  The freshness & emergence of life are heady intoxicants.

Invigorating pops of color have appeared almost overnight. 

Tulip 'Akebono:'

Fritillaria lutea maxima:

Hellebore 'Kingston Cardinal:'

and 'Phoebe:'

dot the garden.

amidst an abundance of Narcissi including this small cupped variety, 'Dreamlight:

and sweet cowslip, Primula veris, has made its earliest appearance ever (in this garden):

Charming blooms, all of them.  A small sampling of what lies outside, but a giant boost for a color starved, bloom thirsty gardener.  I know you can relate....

Note:  Hopefully they can persevere thru the snow & rain mix predicted tonight.  If not, I'll have a lovely bouquet on my table in the morning....

 

restless discontent

Normal for me in February but worse this year because of the continual news coverage about the "winter that never was."  What??

Everything in my garden is white:

and HAS BEEN since October (for the most part ~ January provided a little relief.)

I run the risk of being considered monotonous and a bore if I perseverate much more but let's just say it's been a loooonnng five months.

Half the fifteen days of February have brought snow and colder than normal temps ~ oh wait, I said I was done complaining....

Okay, I'm done now.  Bible...

Instead I'll try to focus on the pink phal orchid, still blooming in the greenhouse/bathroom, instead of the snow encrusted landscape outside:

and view the glass as half full ~ we're partway to March right?

Surely it will warm up in March.  Even here.  Won't it????

 

a slow transition

to the New Year is going on around here.  I don't know why I'm feeling so reluctant about giving up the holidays??  I've never dragged my feet this bad before.  I have three out of five trees down but there is where all efforts toward finishing has ceased.  Hopefully with my daughter now back in school, I'll get in gear. 

Some years I "relish" the clean, uncluttered feeling that comes from removing decorations, but this year I've been dreading the "bareness" left behind that those twinkling, brightly-colored adornments add. 

I can't help thinking how sad the side gate will look without its simple pinecone wreath.

So it's still hanging too...

Same with the holiday ribbons & garland:

Still hanging around... 

Usually I'm looking forward to spring by now and I (really) am this year too.  I just can't seem to help lingering over Christmas even tho I found bulbs (!!) up outside the other day:

Could blooms be possible in the very near future??  That thought should spur me forward!

I also removed hyacinth bulbs from the "frig" and set them on the windowsill:

They quickly grew close to blooming ~ that should hasten me along too.  One would think. 

or perhaps, just perhaps, it's okay to allow Christmas to hang on a bit longer??  (that's what I've been telling myself)  Has everyone else totally packed away the holidays?  Tell me I'm not alone!!! 

 

Christmas in sight

The jolly red-suited man could be here any minute.  We're as ready as we're gonna be. 

FIVE trees twinkle across the house ~ four in the great room & one in my office. 

Two of the five are table top trees ~ just so you know I'm not crazy!

A black & white one (which came out of "retirement" this year but has been featured here before)

plus a newly designed one ~ the grapevine "nature" tree:

Conceived in an effort to bring the garden indoors.  Also where the moss spheres come in:

Anything (and almost everything nature related) found its way onto the buffet top.  The base of the birdhouse was removed in order to have it sit properly on top of the tree:

I think it's my favorite this season. 

A close second, the snowflake & joy tree, shown below during the day:

then again at night:

A sliver of the black (and pink) tree in my office can be glimpsed just to the left of the snowflake tree.  For some reason, I haven't photographed it??

Maybe because I've been too busy baking and packaging biscotti (along with hand stamping tags):

not to mention wrapping presents:

It's been a whirlwind of activity but we're down to the finish line now. 

Nothing left but to relax and enjoy the moment. 

I think a Cranberry Lime Margarita can help with that! 

Merry Christmas everyone ~ hope it's a wonderful holiday for all.

Frosted! Part II

I can't remember a winter fall with so many frosty, foggy days?  Yesterday was yet another but this time, the frost stayed on some plants the entire day!  Now THAT rarely happens.  Usually, by noon, the sun is out and the frost has melted off. 

One thing these circumstances produce are "postcard perfect" compositions almost anywhere the camera is pointed. Persevering that late into the day also gives this "not so early bird" photographer the ample opportunity needed to capture the scenery!

Frosted branches from the yew pathway:

Frosted evergreens at the entrance to our subdivision:

Frosted berries:

A neighbors decorated light post:

and most exciting of all ~ the frosty mornings have brought in two red tail hawks:

For several days now, they have been perching (??) just around the corner from my house! 

Their forms are so large & impressive, they're almost impossible to miss (although I'd bet some of my neighbors haven't noticed them yet.)

The first day I only saw one and had to ask my dad what it was ~ I couldn't see any red on the tail so I wasn't sure it was a red tail:

He identified it as a juvenile which could explain why I was confused. 

Yesterday, the red was a lot more evident or maybe these are both different birds??

Either way, their presence has been a very different addition (not to mention the element of excitement they bring) to the neighborhood.  It will be interesting to see how long they stay. 

As far as the frost, I'm ready for a break!  I bet you couldn't guess that was coming...  ;-)

 

 

 

 

Frosted!

Twas the 6th day of December and not a twig, branch, leaf, blade of grass, etc., etc. (you get the picture) was left untouched by frost.  Wait ~ December 6th??  Isn't it still officially fall?  No one would believe that in my neck of the woods. 

The tree line across the street from my house screams "winter:"

Notice the snow covered ground too??  Sure looks like Winter to me.

It settled in on October 26th (the date of our first snowstorm) and refuses to give Fall it's rightful time back!

Blog readers prepare yourselves for a looonnngg stretch of the "winter blues" compliments of yours truly.

When winter bullies in after only one month of Fall it doesn't take a calculator to figure that's FIVE months of gnarly white cold versus the three dedicated on the calendar.

Totally disproportionate, don't you think? 

This gardener would prefer if the months were skewed the opposite way!

Maybe Spring will figure out a way to chip off some time on that end?

You know that's what this girl's hoping for....

after the snow

Last week I was so busy knocking snow off tree branches I never took the time to take any photos.  Our snow last night came with wind meaning there was less accumulation on the trees.   Feeling a sense of relief about that, I took my camera out (instead of the broom) this morning.  Most of you know (all too well) that I'm not a fan of snow, but even I couldn't help but appreciate these snowy scenes from the garden.  

Rose Pillar:

Rooster post topper:

Topiary Tree:

Birdcage:

Vintage watering can:

Birdhouse tuteur:

Armillary sphere:

and another vintage watering can:

Okay, now MELT already!!! 

blooms to carry me

thru another winter.  I'm sure I'm not the only one looking around the garden and drinking in what's left of the season?  Trying to "soak up" the color & greenery before everything turns to drab brown...

Are you grabbing the camera with the same increased frequency I am??   Determined to capture anything and everything left in bloom?? 

Zauschneria 'arizonica' (Hardy Hummingbird Trumpet) in front of the vintage wheelbarrow:

The way I see it, flowers at the end of October are just as precious as the first blooms of spring. 

They are the lasting impression of the garden before the doldrums of winter set in...

Japanese anemones still going strong. 

The longer they bloom, the shorter the "off season!"

Seat yourself in the purple rocker and enjoy the show...

With the end of the month looming, the sense of urgency to finish fall clean-up becomes paramount.  Tender tropicals (like double flowering mandevilla) have been lifted from their containers and brought indoors to be overwintered.  All that remains are annuals perilously close to demise.

Sounds morbid, doesn't it?? 

It would be remiss to focus solely on flowers & ignore the sudden explosion of fall foliage.  Check out the view down the side pathway today ~ the viburnum leaves were lit up like liquid sunshine!

So fantastic.  If only it would last....

'Terracotta' Calibrachoa ~ I'll be back for you next year!

You were fantastic in the arbor container ~ the perfect spiller.

Oh the melancholy of it all.  Proceeding with seasonal chores while mourning the loss of what has been. 

The fountain is winterized.  The birdbath heater is readied.  The last of the bulbs have been planted, etc. etc. 

All that remains is acceptance. 

Summer is over (get it in your head girl!) and after the predicted hard frost (coming with possible first snow) it will feel as tho fall is gone as well.  Now how to mentally get on the same page...

 

Friday goodness

Fresh snow (strange I think that's good):

New boots (just in time for said fresh snow):

One relieved owner & happy kitty home from the vet hospital (in matching kitty carrier):

Yellow hyacinths (forced bulbs that began chilling on Jan 5th):

The weekend is kicking off with promise ~ hope it stays that way!!

February freeze

We've been experiencing some of our coldest weather of the winter since the calendar flipped over to February.  Remember the minus 20 degree temps I posted about last week?  Today we're in another deep freeze ~ single digits with overnight temperatures below zero again.  ugh. 

When it gets this cold, I feel like a slug and certainly don't enjoy being outdoors.  I force myself to keep clean water in the birdbath (it's heated) and make sure the feeders stay full.  I know this is no time to think of myself and neglect them.  Something new, coinciding with the cold ~ a Downy woodpecker has been making daily appearances at the suet cage:

Apologies for the photo ~ it's not the best quality because the suet feeder is at the back of my garden plus it's taken thru the kitchen window glass.  

I am happy to welcome him as a regular to the garden and hope he continues to visit even after the temperatures moderate.  It is cheering to look out & see him so often.

I've had a lot of non-gardening activities occupying my time lately so maybe it's okay that it's cold?  Did I really just type that??  Helps me stay focused and not want to wander outside instead.  This weekend is supposed to be much nicer so I plan to check on those snowdrops plus look for any other signs of new life/activity.  I hope it's better gardening where you are?