Dangerously beautiful

And yet another setback to spring.

  Many homes without power, power lines, and tree branches down, frigid temperatures

When will it end

Ready for the next season

Once again spring is taking it's sweet time to show it's face around here.

Sure we have had some nice days, that were followed by days and days of cold, grey, and snow followed by more days of cold, grey, and snow. 

Even as I write this post, here it is April 9th we have snow flurries flying around, and grey skies. 

Last year on this date it was  unusually warm, 70 degrees

What is going on ??

My spring containers mostly consist of Pusy willow branches, silk stems, and preserved Eucalyptus.

My interpretation of spring.

The Robins are here, singing their songs and busy building nest, the Tulips are starting to show.

I'm ready for the next season....... maybe tomorrow.

Pusy willow time part 2 : What I did with the branches

Early, early early spring containers.  When a client say's she's tired of her winter containers, and would like a jump start on spring, I always try to accommodate.

It was a beautiful sunny day, about 40 degrees, and there was some snow on the ground.

The soil is still frozen, and it's too early to be planting anything. Pusy willow branches, boxwood cutting, preserved Eucalyptus and some silk stems were used.

The harshness of winter is over, but the warmth of spring is still a ways off.

it's

Pusy willow time

The house is high end modern, and the arrangements in the pots reflect this feeling, the lavender collar of Eucalyptus softens the look

The branches are long, somewhat arching and full of fuzzy silver catskills when used in mass the effect is quite stunning

The fountain at the front of the house has not been filled with water yet, because of the weather, so arrangements were placed in container's and set in the basin of the fountain. Nobody wants to look at a empty hole. The branches give height too.

Maybe this is a new season for gardens, we'll call it Pusy willow time

Pusy Willow time

One of my fondest memories is when my friend showed me the Pussy Willow that grew in his family's back yard. We were in Elementary school and ever since I was in love with these soft silver buds. 

My first sign of spring, along with "Robins"

It won't be long now  

Gardeners World 2018 episode 1

Frozen Landscapes by Kilian Schonberger

Spring arrives later this month. ( The calendar spring )

Which actually means we'll have another two month's of winter to get through here in Michigan.

We have been teased with a couple of rather pleasant days, sunshine ,warm air, and melting snow.

Then it snows again and we're back into winter.

So in the meantime we'll enjoy these Photo's by  Kilian Schonberger of frozen landscapes in Germany 

The parking break is on

Gardening? just a far off dream here in Michigan. and that's fine with me, we all need a break

A lot of gardeners like to spend the winter month's looking over seed catalogs, planning the garden

counting down the days till spring when they can get back into the soil.

Not me, spring will get here when it get's here. 

Iv'e learned just because the calendar says spring, does not mean it's really spring

Mother Nature decides when it's spring, and so do I

I don't start seeds in little peat pots on my window sills trying to get a jump start on the season.

Let someone else bother with that

I purchase transplants (a spoiled Gardener, maybe)

I do enjoy my winter containers with their coats of snow,

Especially at night

Shoveling is almost a daily ritual.

I do long to be back in the garden, but for now this is my garden, and my reality.

It's like the engine is still running but the parking brake is still on

and that's fine with me.