Hellebores On Parade

Today dawned sunny, cold and dry. By early morning it was warming up and we were off to a garden tour and open house! Northwest Garden Nursery is owned and operated by Ernie & Marietta O'Byrne. They sell unique perennials and always have the "latest and greatest" for sale in the plant world. In recent years they have focused on the raising and hybridizing of Hellebores. They hand pollinate and choose for unique forms and colors. They have a magnificent 1.5 acre display garden which wraps around their farmhouse. It was so nice today, to be outside and enjoy the incredible display of color.

A wall of Bamboo

Peonies bursting out of the ground

A beautiful stone mosaic on a garden pathway.

Moving Along

Since the temperature continues to hit a high between 55 and 60 degrees everyday, the plants have decided that even though the calender says February, they are going to get growing and do their thing! Pictured above, a beautiful clump of "Tete-a-tete" daffodils in the mudroom bed.

The crab apple, that just two weeks ago, had brown, dormant buds, has literally sprung to life this week. It is now covered in blood red shoots.

Another pretty clump of miniature daffodils,  "Segovia" up on the bank. It has reliably returned year after year.

Also abiding the early wake-up call, the wild iris. While still months away from blooming, their green , blade shaped leaves are growing like crazy. The open meadows are covered with their lush clumps.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!

The Pussy Willow

One the whole of our property, we can only find one pussy willow. Not surprisingly, it is located down near the main creek. While it is a good 25 feet from the bank of the creek, it is still located in a boggy section of earth, where its feet stay damp even in the height of Summer. Most of the year you never notice the tree. It quietly blends in with its neighboring Douglas Fir and brush. But in late winter, for a week or two, it steps out to center stage. Just this week I noticed that its catkins had opened and it was covered in its signature fuzzy grey.

Mild Weather Marches On

Our mild weather continues. Friday we saw a record temperature as the afternoon high reached 62 degrees. Then the wet weather returned, but the temperature has stayed mild, as it was for all of January. Dorothy's Creek is running nicely right now, as is the main creek.

The "Early Sensation" daffodils that were close to opening up last week have opened the last few days. A blast of golden yellow against all the browns of the February landscape.

The Winter Farmer's Market

One of the challenges to eating local in the Winter can be the availability of local foods. Just like in the summertime, they are out there, but finding them quite often isn't as easy. One reason for this is that in many towns, the Farmer's Market shuts down at the end of Fall and doesn't start up again until late Spring. Luckily, this is changing. I am reading about more and more markets that are attempting to stay open year round. Ultimately, their success will depend on folks supporting them. But before they can support them, they must know they exist! Last weekend, I discovered through word of mouth that our town is now hosting a year-round market. While much smaller than our main market downtown, this Winter market still provides a lovely place to buy locally grown produce and goods. And it provides our farmers and food producers with some small amount of  Winter income. A win-win situation for everyone.

Dark Days Challenge - Week #10

For this weeks challenge, I looked at what was left of my summer harvest and what was available at the Farmer's Market. Soup seemed to be the answer. From my harvest, "Delicata" Squash are still filling the garage - well not quite. But perhaps next year a few less "Delicata" and a few more plants of another variety. My newly discovered Winter Farmer's Market still had a nice selection of potatoes and many beautiful leeks. Now all I needed was a recipe. There are probably as many Potato & Leek Soup recipes as there are cooks. But I wanted something special. After a search on google I discovered the site Pinch My Salt and read Nicole's recipe. Besides sounding delicious I loved the story attached to it. Recipes connected to loved ones always taste better. My only addition was to throw in one Delicata" with the potatoes. It nicely blended in with the potatoes, added some important nutriants, and got rid of one more squash from the garage! Here is the link to Nicole's recipe.

A Beautiful Winter Day - and Signs of Spring

After a storm moving thru the area yesterday, we were treated today with a beautiful, sunny day. By early afternoon the temperatures had risen to the 50's and it was time to get outside! As I walked around the property,even though we are in deep Winter, there were signs everywhere pointing to Springs eventual arrival. Above, is pictured a tip on one of the branches of one of the three "Sweet Gums". The buds are really beginning to swell and are turning a deep red color.

I also came across our patch of "Early Sensation" daffodils. They are already up a good 2-4", although most of the other varieties have yet to poke out of the ground. These should be blooming by mid-February.

It wouldn't be a proper hike around the property without my faithful companion Cleo. She was enjoying the sunny day every bit as much as I was.

Even the indoor cats were loving the unseasonably warm weather. You find the sun where ever you can!

Not everyone was on-board. Tom clearly knows there's still 2 more months until Spring and would kindly like me to quit taking pictures and go away. Kitty hibernation at its best!

Today was the first blue-sky , sunny day that we have had for such a long time. As I drove home from work, the sunset got more and more intense. I managed to snap this photo just in time, before darkness fell. We still have a long way to go, but it is so encouraging to have it light now until 5:30.