Monday, February 8, 2016

The Garden in February

It was an exquisitely beautiful weekend on the mountain top and I felt so very fortunate to have time off to enjoy it. 


Aside from cooking and catching up on a few things around the house, I spent some quality time outside, which felt amazing. 

As much as I love to snuggle next to the fire with a good book on a winter's eve, when that sun comes out and spring feels so close you can't keep me inside for anything!

I grabbed the camera and a glass of Prosecco and headed out to see what's happening in the garden. 


It amazes me that I have anything at all to report to you in the month of February here in the Northeast. That just goes to show how bizarre our winter has been this year. 


It might not look like much from a distance but a true gardener looks beyond the obvious and is always looking for what's coming next. 


I was shocked to find the bulbs I planted in the fall popping up in quite a few spots. 


First of all, it's too early. Normally the garden is still under a foot of snow or more at this point. 

Second of all, I thought the critters found them all - in the days immediately after I planted 240 spring bulbs, I found empty holes all over the place where the animals had dug them out. 

I guess they missed some!


The Rhododendrons have some nice big fat buds.  Some of the Lilac branches that had nice buds on them were eaten by the deer...I'm not sure if that means I won't get blooms on those branches? Does anyone know? 


It seems some of the trees have early buds as well, although it is far too soon for that. 


The chives in the veggie garden have come up quite a bit in the last week or so. I could nearly gather a handful....tempting!


Some of the plants I am attempting to overwinter in the garden cottage are looking quite well. I wonder if I should give them a sprinkle of water every now and again? Anyone know? Or should I leave them be for now?


Strawberries hanging in there in the garden cottage....I hope I get some berries this year. Last year was a bust....not sure why. 


Even the pansies in the window box on the garden cottage are surviving, it seems, despite their outward appearance. See all that green growth under the frost bitten outer leaves?


Even where there is no green to be found there is still much beauty in the winter garden. 


I'm surprised the birds haven't eaten all these seed heads but perhaps that's because I feed all my critters too well. 


The creek at the edge of my property is still running freely, very little ice to be found. 

All this spring-like weather was just a tease. Winter returns with a vengeance this week, with snow expected this evening and bitter cold temps to come. 

I worry about all the little plants that think it's time to bud. 

Will they make it until spring?

42 comments:

  1. We are under a foot of snow (more actually) with more falling today...and even more expected tomorrow. I like your view better! ;)

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    1. We're due a little snow tonight, Kim....not much, just a couple of inches. Bye, bye buds!!

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  2. Such sweet promises of spring to come...I love the reminders this time of year! It is sure beautiful where you live!

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    1. It's truly such a tease, though, Linda....I know I have at least 2 months ahead of me of winter and at least another month past that until our last frost date. Sigh. But the pansies are my saving grace - the second they hit the stores I bring them home! This year, any that survive in my little garden cottage will make it onto the deck even earlier!!

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  3. I always feel a bit sorry for those tender plants that think it's time to pop up out of the ground, or on the limb of a tree. I hope they make it until the time is really right.

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    1. I'm not sure they will...the ten day forecast is quite bleak!

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  4. Looks great and look at those little heads peeping up! Can't believe it's almost Spring! Hope you're doing well.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. "Almost" is a very misleading word in this case, Shelia - it seems forever until Spring will properly be here!

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  5. My white tulip bulbs were emerging in the containers. I put a little more soil on them to cover them. Don't know if it will help or not.
    Brenda

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    1. It won't hurt....I don't know if your forecast is as cold as ours....I see a night at -10 in our ten day forecast. That will kill everything that's been hanging in there, and all the buds.

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  6. I am amazed at all that is growing in your gardens already. I love to smell the dirt in spring. To see things pushing thru the ground. We had snow showers on and off all day...The beautiful weekend spoiled me. :( Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Spoiled me, too, Susie! Today is a different story entirely. Sigh.

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  7. It looks so pretty. The crazy weather is making everything try and bloom early here too.

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    1. Fingers crossed things will survive the next month, Valerie....if they make it until March there may be hope!

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  8. Good Morning,
    Gorgeous photos, I could feel the brisk air and sense the anticipation in your writing!
    Spring is on it's way and just look at all the glorious blossoms and blooms you will have.
    When the Lilac blooms-send me a branch please, I miss them so much!
    xo
    Jemma

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    1. Lilac is one of my very favorite flowering shrubs - I planted 4 new Lilacs at my house this summer and there were 3 shrubs already in place....future Springs should be so fragrant around here!

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  9. I love searching for those first peeks of life! I too worry when it's been so mild things pop too early. The proseco is a nice touch lol.

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  10. My bulbs are poking their heads above ground but, as of last night, are covered with what's going to be more than a foot of snow. A camera, glass of bubbly and a walk on the land...sounds like heaven on earth to me!

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    1. Oh wow, more than a foot of snow? Holy smokes! We got a couple of inches so apparently winter isn't nearly done around here....it got off to such a late and lame start it was easy to forget for a weekend that it's only early February!

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  11. We also had beautiful weather this past weekend! In fact, my cherry trees and even the peaches look like they want to bloom! Too soon :( This happened last year and we had a few frosts (and snowstorms) after the bloom, which killed almost all of the baby fruit. My daffodils are halfway up and the tulips are just about there! Strange weather we are having!

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    1. Wow, I can't believe how much farther along your garden is....but then again, you are in CA, right?

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    2. Yes - Northern California in the mountains - so we really shouldn't be this far along! Oh well, not much I can do about it!

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  12. What a lovely creek! I hope your newly emerging and budding out plants will survive your coming winter weather.

    Happy Valentine's week ~ FlowerLady

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    1. I love that little creek, Lorraine. I can hear the sound of the water from my deck in the warmer months - heaven on earth, right there. I was thinking recently of adding a little bench closer to the creek where I could sit a spell and enjoy the trickling water. too bad it's right near the road, though.

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  13. I love your last line! I wonder too if I will make it to Spring in all this cold! No snow here in Upstate NY but bitter cold is coming. I have to go out in my garden now and see what is going on out there. I love the dried flower skeletons and seed pods that remain in the winter. I think a garden is beautiful in any season.

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    1. I am also in upstate NY but perhaps not as far north as you? And yes, a garden is surely beautiful in any season....and I hope all those little buds and bulbs last through the weekend with the bitter cold temps that are predicted here!

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  14. You are living the life! You know I love upstate New York. That is beautiful territory.
    Love seeing all the cardinals in your tree.

    Guess what I spotted today? My irises are blooming! Our winter has been nonexistent here in Dallas this year. I'm good with that.

    Happy TOHOT!

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    1. I wish those were all cardinals - that would be quite the photo, wouldn't it? Nope, that's my Sumac tree. Those are the Sumac berries that I should have harvested in the fall to make sumac vodka! :) I can't believe your irises are blooming already - oh boy, I might have to move to Texas!!

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  15. I love the signs of a spring garden. I love that wonderful little creek. We recently bought a house in Missouri and are getting ready to move soon. The house has a drainage ditch behind it and I hope to make it look more like a creek! The sign of those bulbs must of really been exciting. Where I live in Colorado now - spring is a longer way off.

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    1. Oh how exciting for you, Bernideen! Where I live in upstate NY Spring is a long way off as well....but a girl can dream, right?

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  16. I love the signs of a spring garden. I love that wonderful little creek. We recently bought a house in Missouri and are getting ready to move soon. The house has a drainage ditch behind it and I hope to make it look more like a creek! The sign of those bulbs must of really been exciting. Where I live in Colorado now - spring is a longer way off.

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  17. What a lovely piece of property! I hope your little bulbs and buds make it through the snow!! Thanks for sharing at Your Inspired Design!

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    1. If the rain and high winds let up for a bit today I might be able to check on those bulbs....this weather is beyond bizarre!!

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  18. Oh, my! You live in such a lovely setting. My favorite is the photo of the bulbs just pushing up through the soil.

    Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

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    1. I'm truly blessed, no doubt. And I am thankful each and every day!

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  19. Lovely signs of the promises of spring. I felt your joy in a beautiful day as you strolled through your garden.

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    1. That's truly one of my all time favorite ways to spend a day - or a morning - or an evening! Just stick me in my garden and I'm a happy girl!

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  20. That's how our Winter was last year. In fact, we didn't really have a winter. I had my entire garden raked and cleaned up by the end of February. This year it is buried in snow. However today it felt very spring like and I noticed my daffodils poking through the ground out front where the snow has melted. If you get snow, it won't hurt your bulbs or chives at all. The Rhody's, I'm not sure. :) Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. The Rhody's should be ok if the deer don't eat the buds first - at least I think so! I wouldn't mind having my garden all raked and ready by the start of March - that would be awesome!

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  21. When it comes to lilacs it all depends on how much they actually eat. My neighbor had a moose eat almost half of her lilac bushes and it took several years for them to begin blooming again. I have lilac trees that seem to do well when the moose take a few nibbles of them.

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    1. They left a few buds alone so perhaps I'll have a few flowers on that shrub - of course it's the one my parents bought me as a housewarming gift when I first moved in - they couldn't have eaten any of the ones that were already there, right? :)

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