Some Crocus Before They're Gone

We have been having a heat wave and the Witch Hazels and snowdrops have burned through and pretty much finished up their bloom. The crocus are rising fast. 

It is best to go have a look before they finish a hasty bloom or get eaten by the deer.

The Great Lawn is choke full of crocus bulbs in all colors.

Today was the first full bloom at 70 degrees for a high. That is too hot for February.

The crocus were enjoying it. I did too at work today. Spring is here. It is time to get back to work. If only I felt better. I'm going back to visit the doctor tomorrow.

The Great Lawn has been thoroughly doused with red hot pepper. Damn varmints! The good news is the crocus are multiplying very well. It seems as long as the flowers get pollinated, they can get eaten and the seed pods still develop below ground before coming up when they are ready for dispersal.

I saw lots of crocus today.

Then It Snowed

 

A Day Late For Bloom Day.

Yesterday was not a good day. I felt completely exhausted, unable to move, and spent the day napping on and off. I lost track of what day it was. It was Bloom Day and I slept through it. This sinus infection seems to be lifting, but it is not letting go easily. Rotating days of warm have set the bulbs in motion. Sunshine signals opening days.

These early crocus remind me to go have a look at the house next to the Catholic church in town that is a solid lawn of crocus. It is a sight to behold.

The sunshine encourages the snowdrops to open fully as well.

 

This is the beginning of many full Bloom Days to come.

The Witch Hazels are in bloom. It is interesting that they seem to have long petal and short petal years. Or I am imagining things.

I caught a sweet whiff of 'Arnold's Promise' passing by. That is a good sign. I am so over feeling sick.

More crocus arrive on a daily basis.

The damn deer eat my crocus. This year they will be getting a mouth full of hot pepper to go with my flowers.

The hellebore are in bloom too.

Next up will be the daffodils. They are rising in force. I'm running late on my chop and drop this year and spring is running a touch early. I need to feel better soon.

Some Flowers Before A Storm

A winter storm has begun. There could be a large amount of snow delivered tomorrow. That's fine. I still feel like crap. I am now on a second course of a different antibiotic. I have to wonder if the real problem is that I am allergic to Solly who came to live with us for the winter. Meanwhile, the crocus are rising.

The snowdrops are spreading.

'Diane' is now in bloom.

The hellebores are popping back up after all their foliage got cooked in the polar blast.

'Arnold's Promise' has joined in.

I can't taste or smell much of anything right now. 'Arnold's Promise' can be quite fragrant.

The snowdrops are spreading fast.

The Early Risers

Except for the -8 degree polar blast that cooked a lot of evergreens, now shedding all their leaves, it has been a pretty mild winter with little snow. There has been plenty of cold, wet and icky 40 degree rain. Spring is coming early now with some 60 degree days. The snowdrops are in full bloom all across the mountain top.

The first crocus have started to show and the daffodils are pushing up from below. The hellebore are starting to bloom. 

The Witch Hazels bloom on. If spring is going to be early, we just have to hope another polar blast doesn't arrive to wreck things. More snow is to be expected. It's only the first week of February.

Snowdrops In The Mist

It has been wet and icky all week. I was feeling icky enough to finally go to the doctor to find out I have a sinus infection. Day two of the cure and I still feel icky.

Walking halfway up the driveway to see 'Jelena' and 'Diane' in bloom in a thick cold fog took some effort.

I have been sleep disturbed and nap rich. Accomplishing one chore a day seems plenty. 

The snowdrops are blooming. The daffodils are rising. More snow is on the way. The ick will be gone soon enough one hopes and replaced with the fresh energy of spring.

I See Snowdrops

I went for a walk while the sun was out in between rain and snow, to see what I might see. The weather of late has not been very conducive to being outside at all. It does not help that I am not feeling well. It could be bronchitis or walking pneumonia. I don't know how to be sick. I have little experience with that.

I saw a mountain top covered in snowdrops in a howling wind that should have kept me inside.

And more snowdrops around every bend in the path.

A few daffodils were peeking out. It is time to do the chop and drop before the spring bulbs arrive. Now the weather and my energy level need to cooperate. Today it was too cold.

Along The Scenic Driveway

After several years of feeding the idea out to the heavens, the universe aligned and produced a new and improved driveway down the hill to the cozy cabin. Here it is while in process.

Two water bars were added to direct torrential rains off the driveway before they could turn into gulley washing rivers. I had seen a lot of variations of this concept online and how to make them. My road fixer suggested sections of guardrail that I had not seen online. This was a simple and brilliant solution. It will be interesting to see how they work and stand up over time.

The driveway was tilted and the stream side of the driveway was shaved lower, all to direct water away from the house and parking lot. Two of my blooming Witch Hazels ended up on a small island. I was quite adamant that those were staying put and were not to be dinged by heavy machines.

It was a nice, mostly sunny day for fixing a driveway.

'Jelena' was in full bloom, minus the flowers the deer have been eating. Damn varmints!

Tomorrow I will wake up to the return of snow.