The Bright Side of Winter

Snow is pretty on evergreens and makes my gargoyle look like a smurf. .

Purple Gem Rhododendron

This evergreen turns a beautiful color in the fall and stays just as beautiful through the winter months. In the spring this plant has wonderful purple blooms.

Just one of many clumps of Daffodils popping up.

Crocuses are starting to come up also.

I noticed in the winter I can get quite a bit done indoors...Even if it's just indoor gardening. :)

Helleborus (indoors)

Passiflora Incarnata "May Pop"

This pasaflora is winter hardy in my NY planting zone but I decided to give it one more winter indoors to play it safe. It also came in from the garden with some Irish clovers. Perfect for St. Patty's Day.


Hibiscus bud (indoors)

Key Lime Tree (indoors)

Even though this tree is tiny, it already gave me a lime this winter. It will go outdoors as soon as there is no sign of frost. Which here is probably the end of April beginning of May.

There is always seed starting to do in February and March. Below are seven daylily seedings that I planted about two weeks ago already popping up. How exciting! This was my first mini cross.

Winter blues

A sleepy Oakley trying to keep warm.


We've had a rough winter and the whole family has been spending a lot of time indoors under blankets to keep warm.

I snuck out a few times to get some pictures but unfortunately the best thing around was ice. So here goes...






My Japanese Maple tree coated in ice.

Icy Dogwood branches glistening in the sunset.

So since it's February, it's time to start thinking about what seeds I'm planting in the spring and which daylily seeds I will start this week. I will be shopping for some plastic containers, soil and will need to make some room under my plant light for starting the seeds. Can you tell I am looking forward to spring? I even ventured outside this weekend to clean up my front porch and to look for new growth expecting nothing. Only I did find something! One of my bulbs (a Daffodil) trying to come up. The warmer weather this weekend has melted the snow and has gotten the gardener in me all excited.