Not so brown afterall

This morning we woke up to our third "blanket of white" this fall ~ 8" of new snow fell overnight.  If I stay true to form, I should be depressed, right??!  No way.  Not this time.  This was the kind of snow Colorado is famous for ~ the kind that comes and goes almost as quickly as you can turn around.  Perfect.  Shortly after I got up, the sun peeked out, the clouds cleared and we were back to blue skies.  The snow is almost melted off the roadways as I type.  Yippee.  Now that the driveway & patio are shoveled, I can share a few surprises I found in the garden before the storm arrived.  Remember I told you everything was brown?  I guess I lied ~ but not intentionally ~ so please don't think less of me.  A spot of yellow I hadn't previously noticed caught my eye along the north rock pathway.  Getting down on the ground, I saw it was a lone bloom on striking Viola 'Tiger Eyes:'

I knew viola's and pansies were hardy but they have to really be sturdy to survive the few 15 & 16 degree nightly low temperatures we've experienced already.  I'm glad they are because just finding the one flower perked up my day.  Hopefully it will still be there when the snow melts.  Something else blooming that doesn't always thrill me ~ but this time of year is welcome as an exotic flower ~ a dandelion!

I'll happily leave it be because right now, it looks as pretty as my most cherished perennials.  I am desperate, aren't I?!!!  The color yellow must be the most cold hardy color of all (if color counts for anything) because there was one more yellow waiting to be photographed.  This one in the form of half a mum plant which somehow managed to survive in the vintage wheelbarrow arrangement.  Pretty amazing, huh?  The rest of the mums succumbed to the cold long ago and have already been composted.  Thank goodness for small miracles.  I think that's what the bee/fly (??) was saying too:

 

Heaven knows there's little else left for them to feed on.  Certainly nothing in the next two photos I'm going to share but these are interesting to me because they're still very much alive and green.  First the water lilies in the pond:

I don't have the heart to cut them back since they're still doing so well but I'm not sure if that's the right approach or not?  Having never overwintered pond plants before I'm a bit stymied.  Leave them until they're dying or cut them now?  If anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it.  The other water plants frosted long ago and were trimmed back and sunk to the bottom of the pond.  I planned for these to join them but I didn't figure they'd still be green after all we've been thru.  The last photo is of the artichoke foliage in the veggie garden.

 

I have zero experience with artichokes too.  I planted this one for my niece.  She absolutely loves them and I hoped she could pick her own from the garden when she visited this summer.  ha.  Dreamer that I was, it grew a bit but not enough to form any artichokes.  It seems very hardy tho ~ will it overwinter (zone 6)?  I thought I would try mulching it and hope for the best.  Maybe next year there will be a crop for her?  I'm just glad to find a few specks of color.  Thanks for indulging me.  I know a lot of you still have quite a bit going on in the garden so this is a pittance.  But I do know you understand how great color can be when there's little to be found. 

Comments

[Janet]

That Viola 'Tiger Eyes' is really nice. Love the bold stripes.

[Robin]

I can't imagine 8" of snow melting that fast! Your flower pictures are so pretty!

[Shady Gardener]

Kathleen, Fun post! I even saw a vinca blossom yesterday. lol. If your pond is around 2 1/2 feet deep, your waterlilies should be fine! I suppose you could just trim them back and sink them like you did the rest of your plants. :-) I used to have a little pond in the backyard (at our other home) that was only 2 feet deep. Because we are in Zone 4/5, the pond was too shallow to overwinter anything. A deeper pond would also overwinter fish!

[Sweet Bay]

These are just wonderful pictures. All are beautiful but I especially like the insect (I'm guessing Hover Fly) and the Viola. The Viola shot is really superb.

[Catherine]

That yellow pansy is so pretty, that would cheer me up too! I just leave my water lily. My pond is just about 2 feet deep and they do fine. I'm usually too wimpy to reach in and pull the plants out to cut them back when the water is so cold. Our pond never freezes solid, maybe a couple of inches at most and I leave the waterfall going to leave an open spot for air to get to the fish. I never did clean mine this spring, but next spring I must!

[Tyra in Vaxholm]

Hi Kathleen, ah so you have had snow, lucky girl. For me Kathleen I think of the yellow colour as a typical spring colour and her you have almost a whole post filled with gorgeous yellow flowers and it is November. Love the arty artichoke too.

[Marnie]

Hi Kathleen, that viola is so pretty. I know just how you feel. I found a dandelion out by the barn Friday and brought it inside;)

I picked up a few scrapbook papers on my trip. Found some that looked handpainted with textured paint and lots of glitter. Used them for my nieces first birthday party spread. Picked up some embellishments too but they didn't have as many as I hoped. We don't have many good choices in this area.
Marnie

[Lona]

What a beautiful array of yellows to brighten my morning. I am really loving the picture with the honeybee. Great Macro shot!
Lona