Farewell to Winter 2024/2025

We actually had a taste of winter in 2024/2025. The snowfall was soft and powdery this time. It was just perfect if you didn't have to go anywhere. Most of February was mild punctuated with freezing temperatures.

The clear winter sky has provided some spectacular views this year. We see Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Castor and Pollux most every night. We recently saw the largest halo around the moon that I can recall. I've attempted to capture this, but the photo didn't clearly depict the halo.

We often have a fiery sunset in February. It's so gorgeous against the deciduous tree trunks.

Thinking of purple pinks in winter, the hellebores are doing well as usual. The Merlin hellebores have attained their magical purple.

This small cluster of crocuses heralds Spring each year opening in February and sometimes as early as late January.

I'm very happy to say that this year we have simultaneous blooming with the paper bush, camellia japonica, forsythias and the Royal Star magnolia stellata. This hasn't happened in a few years. A low of 25 is predicted for March 2nd. I'm hoping this doesn't damage the blossoms.

The Paper Bush, edgeworthia is releasing it's honey like fragrance as the flowers open fully revealing the butter yellow center.

The camellia japonica has been spared from the squirrels this year. We haven't needed to put the netting on the tree to protect the blossoms on them. I'm still keeping an eye out just in case.

If all goes well this bush will be spectacular in about a week.

The Royal Star magnolia blossoms started to open in late February. The scent reminds me of delicate almond.

The forsythias reliably bloom in March. They are starting to open now in late February. Spring Glory is a big bold forsythia. The sulfur yellow flowers are perfect against a bright blue sky and March winds. Occasionally, we'll see them blooming in a late season snow.

Despite the snow we have had several mild days. Our neighborhood has started preparing for Spring.

Across the street some willow oak limbs are being removed. The trees are left in place though.

We have trimmed the abelias, red twig dogwoods, butterfly bushes and more. Those are pleasant jobs to me. The more

onerous task is removing the pine straw. We've removed a good amount, but there is much more to go!

Ian has spread several wheel barrows worth of home made compost on some of the gardens. In particular, the challenging garden bed next door. It sits below two willow oaks resulting in very dry soil and some serious competition for nutrients.

We have recently added a cedar bench in the far back which allows us to view the shade bed. When this weathers to gray in a couple of years the bench will look like it has always been there.

Even the garden gnome has new furniture. A capiz shell which fell from a windchime is now a fairy table top.

We simply glued it to the upside down terracotta pot.

A close up of the fairy table.

The pond is also showing signs of life. The lily pads start red before maturing to green.

A substantial looking tadpole. Will he be a bullfrog or a Green frog?

A bevy of narcissus declare that Spring is here! Happy Gardening!