Spring has Sprung!

Forsythia in full bloom over a month early!

'Pink Frost' Hellebores which spent the winter in the garage as it's  a zone 5  variety

Autumn fern that I stashed in garage over winter

pot of mini hostas also stored in garage-doesn't look like much now but happy there's signs of green  there

pasque flowers showing color amidst dried foliage leftovers

the bad! must do something this year about underground vermin! enough is enough! any suggestions?

new Bloomering lilac that was planted last fall

gardens before cleaning

front yard before cleaning

Star magnolia-earliest ever blooming- about a month or more early

first blossom of Star magnolia

Magnolia 'Ann'

bud of Magnolia 'Ann'

Dappled Willow next to pool

first crocus spotted among the leaves

dish garden coming to life again after winter storage in deck box under deck

Spring seems to have come suddenly and very early this year after our very wimpy winter. This is the earliest month that spring blossoms have opened in my gardens. I really enjoy the flowering shrubs of spring that I have planted the past few years. It's so great to see color in the garden after our long winters here in Minnesota. I'm not sure if we'll see more white stuff in the next month or so but we're enjoying our early spring and all that comes with it. With this warmth I feel like I really need to get out and start working on things but the experts are saying to wait a bit before we get too carried away with the yard and garden work. There will be plenty to do soon enough so I think I'll just enjoy the unfolding colors popping up for awhile. Hope you're enjoying spring in your gardens too!

Snow Day!

Early morning view from my living room window

the birds were busy this morning

the view at seven a.m. snow loaded hydrangea

the deck

winter wonderland

with rain last night, then snow weighed down branches everywhere

ice trimmed feeders

backyard

no swimming today

Christmas pointsettia

warm inside thanks to wood stove

front yard

surprise flowers of bogainvillea

spare bedroom window-branches in front are hibiscus, red pointsettia  and  bogainvillea in back

After many months of hardly any snow-which is rare for a Minnesota winter, we have a snow day. It started out with rain yesterday evening and turned to snow during the night. I got up this morning and looked outside to find a winter wonderland. I turned on the tv to watch the news as I had breakfast and jumped for joy when I saw that our school district was closed. We're the largest district in Minnesota and never close because parents depend on us for their child care. I'm enjoying this hoped for but unexpected blessing of a day off.
Inside my pointsettia is still looking good. Last year's pointsettia is gangly but colorful and the bogainvillea that lost all it's leaves this fall is coming back with new leaves and flowers.
Tomorrow is March 1st. Spring will be here in no time! (the temps here will be near 50 by Tuesday the weatherman says) Happy Leap Day!

December in the Garden

The front walk with the holy family

Hydrangea

Dried blossoms of asters

Bare front yard

Still a star- Little Bluestem grass- my favorite

brown backyard with amazing blue sky

new half price addition to add some color

I love real fir trees. This first one is mine, the second is my sister in law's,and the last one is my son's. You don't see too many tinsel covered trees anymore.

I haven't blogged much this winter. Instead of being almost January the weather has felt more like October or November. After our neverending snow last year we've only managed to get a little over eight inches so far this winter season. It's very brown outside but bright and sunny with the most beautiful blue sky. I am enjoying the week of winter break from school. Today is the first day I've been home by myself. It's nice to get some odds and ends done around here. I need to venture back into my scraproom today and finish up some overdue Christmas cards.
Happy New Year to All!

First Snow

Today's view from the front door

snowy pumpkins

Fall flower heads on 'Quickfire' Hydrangea

pots to winter over  in garage

Bronzy purple leaves on Penstemon 'Dark Towers'

Rhododendron leaves curled up for a long winter's nap

Inside, last year's pointsettia turning red again for Christmas without any help from me

tiny buds are beginning to form on Christmas cactuses in kitchen  garden window

deer planter

'The Blues' Little Bluestem grass- love the soft seed heads even if it is a bit floppy

Hillside garden in backyard

'Little Lamb' Hydrangea

We officially had our first measurable snowfall of the season yesterday. Today we have bright sunshine and cold temps. I stepped out of the warm wood heated lower level of our home to snap a few pictures before the snow melts into the dry ground this week as temps rise again before Thanksgiving. Starting to enjoy the respite from gardening chores after getting the pool covered for winter and all the other fall garden tasks(almost-still need to fence around tiny apple trees to protect from hungry bunnies). There is still a lot action on and under the bird feeders, including a neighborhood pheasant who comes to dine. He was right on the front sidewalk a couple of days ago but the dog scared him away before I could grab my camera. Darn. He's a handsome fellow.
I will soon be busy decorating for my favorite time of the year. Hope everyone has a blessed holiday season. Enjoy this most wonderful time of the year!