It looks like winter will last at least another week. I kind of blame myself since in early January I was a little chilled and pulled out the winter coat for a walk around the garden. Mother Nature must have seen and said “Oh really? Hold on and I’ll show you some real cold” and now here we are. This morning on the ride through the mountains I saw a -6F (-21C) and then on the way home it was already down to 0F. I guess I was glad to have the coat.
The Temple Nursery catalog arrived as well as my NARGS seed exchange goodies. I would say snowdrop ordering and seed sorting was the perfect way to spend a Friday night 🙂
Even in the cold, the ridiculous dog still insisted on running about in the dark, sniffing out rabbits and investigating every suspicious shadow. Again I was happy to have the coat. It wasn’t until I made it to the winter garden that things started to look more promising. Flowers in bloom and growing plants are a nice diversion away from cold and work, and although the dog was annoyed that I would slip out to the garage rather than stand by the door letting him in and out every ten minutes, I though my winter garden time was a nice recharge.
I was able to get my hands on a tiny bulb of Narcissus romieuxii ‘Atlas Gold’ and it’s now in flower under lights. I thought it would be a bolder gold, but instead it’s a fantastic lemony yellow.
Even in the winter garden it’s a little chilly tonight so I didn’t stay long. The Rock Garden Society seeds are sown and ready to get thrown out into the cold, and now I’m entertaining the idea of more seeds. That’s a terrible idea of course, but you know what a couple days of cold can do to a gardener and I’m trying to fight that urge as well as bulb orders and tropical plant pre-sales. And new perennials. And a couple caladiums… just in case…
There’s still February to get through you know? Stay warm 🙂
sorta like suburbia 
GEEZ! The temps are up and down daily. It is supposed to be 57° F next Monday!!! I am ready to get my hands in the dirt rather than potting soil. 🙂 My fingers are getting itchy. I hope you are doing well, my friend!
I heard you guys got some snow down there. Hope it wasn’t too bad but it seems like you can handle the cold, but a few inches of snow is practically the end of days!
I was repotting things which didn’t really need it but I needed it. Soon the warmth will return for good 🙂
Oh yes. We had snow and plenty of it. It was pretty cold, but it will be in the 50’s this week. Spring will be here soon then we can all get our hands in the dirt and do necessary repotting. 🙂
That is cold!!! So glad you have your winter garden to keep your spirits up and your coat to keep you warm!
I’ve been hiding in the winter garden for days now. It’s getting out of hand the number of cuttings I’ve taken.
Thank goodness we never experience such cold weather.
I think if you reminded me in July how cold it gets here I’d laugh and say you were joking. It’s funny how each winter the cold seems shocking and then each summer the heat is a surprise. You can get used to it I guess… unless you’re my mother in law, who apparently cannot leave the house until springtime or until she runs out of wine.
Resolve weakens day by chilly day, lol. 😉 The winter garden sounds like a welcome respite. Stay warm, Frank, pretty darn cold out there and we have yet another storm to contend with this weekend.
You know what would make February better? A new amaryllis I think. I’m not entirely sure I can make it much longer without a few plant orders, but day by day I try to stay strong 😉
🙂
I bet they’d be on closeout, too, buy two! 🙂
That’s a mighty cute little narcissus you have there! The cold can’t last forever! All too soon we will be passing remarks about how darn hot it is, and shouldn’t we just be sitting by the pool with a cold drink in our hands!
Hmmm. I think you’ve just summed up my life. Months of sitting around with a hot beverage complaining about the cold followed by months of sitting around with a cold beverage complaining about the heat. Sometimes I do a little weeding. Not bad I think 😉
We finally got out of those minus temps. Luckily got about 5-6″ of snow just before the temperatures took a dive. The first snowdrops I ever ordered were from Temple Nursery. I love his catalog and his beautiful penmanship. Glad you have a warm, plant-filled stopping place.
Heh heh, we had a day or two of warmer and now we’re back to cold. I think it will start to fade away by the end of February though and I better stay focused on getting this year’s skiing in!
Gosh it is cold here too. It has been so cold that Annie actually caught a rabbit. It must have been too cold to run fast enough to get away from her. She is getting old and doesn’t have much luck most of the time. I know it made her day. I must say I wasn’t too sorry to see it go either.
Seeing your narcissus makes me think of all my overseas friends that grow these little beauties in their greenhouses. Such a lovely sight during this time of year. Well done.
Good job on the bunny Annie!
Because the backyard is ripped up I’ve been throwing bird seed on the front lawn. At night the rabbits come by and look for leftovers right next to the porch and right where Biscuit goes for his business. He’s always very excited to see they’ve come by to play, but they are never sure if they should bother running or not. Biscuit is no Annie.
That is pretty cold Frank. We haven’t had it that cold this year yet and I am hoping it might skip us! Nice to see a golden Narcissus in flower. I didn’t realize there are mountains near you. Do they get snow capped for long in winter? The German Alps south of us have had good snowfall all winter this year, but we can’t see them from around here.
You’d think if it were going to be real cold you would have had something a little close by now, right? I think we have until the end of the month and even that will be stretching it. The daytime highs will start nudging above freezing every day and with the stronger sun the snowdrops will be up before we know it!
Oh you would laugh to see the hills we call mountains! The Appalachian mountains have been wearing down for millions of years and around here most are fully tree covered. If it weren’t for the valleys going down you wouldn’t notice the ‘mountains’ going up! But they are usually about ten degrees lower and receive noticeably more rain, even without the fun of mountain goats and alpine meadows 😉
My goodness, that’s cold. Of course the only antidote is to buy more seeds. I love these little narcissi, I have a few pots in my greenhouse which raise the spirits. But outside the common daffodils are in bud as we haven’t had much if a winter this year, although there is still time.
It is a struggle to find these smaller daffodils, you’d be disgusted at how long it takes to start a collection of more than three or four! But they are exciting to have while waiting for things to do something outside.
I am really trying to not order seeds and plants. I keep telling myself the garden centers might have something if things really get desperate and I should just wait.
…more seeds! A gardener’s gotta do what a gardener’s gotta do. Love the cheerful N. ‘Atlas Gold’.
Hang on to that coat Frank.
Maybe I did order Primrose Society seed. Better to be safe than sorry, and they call the cost a donation to cover the seed exchange so it’s really not that I’m buying seeds… right? 😉
We seem to be in the same pattern. We get snow and then the temperatures drop to below zero. At least according to my weather app on my phone, this scenario which is happening as I type will repeat itself toward the middle of next week. I’m wondering if I dare start some pepper seeds indoors next month…
I feel like this winter will die away rapidly as the days lengthen and the snow melts. These La Nina winters are supposed to be snowy and cold, but this one is barely average according to my thermometer.
I am going to hang on to the winter coat a little longer though 😉
I’m sure your right. I will try to remember your wisdom as I continue to put on all my layers. 🙂
Hoping February will stay a bit warmer but seems more snow this week.
That’s what I’m hoping as well. February will go quickly I think.