Happy New Year??? I really wanted to say, hey what about that snow storm by now…..but alas no snow here…AT ALL!! What a bummer. The plan to nest in, read garden catalogs, order some seeds, clean up my garden room has been foiled. Instead i am wandering around outside peeking at what nature has gifted us with that normally goes unnoticed.
Today while walking along the woods line, I noticed some wild briars had swollen buds….excited for Spring, I think they might be reacting to the mild winter temps.
The Mahonia shrubs were just waiting to share a fresh yellow burst of sunshine and delightful fragrance that they are known for.
The Sarcococca is beginning to open into bloom and share the decadent scent that makes you wonder where in the world is that fragrance coming from??
As always the Camellia blooms and buds delight my heart and gives me reason to pause and admire the beauty that surrounds us….not that I need a reason. I am in love with nature and the surprises that it shares with us….it dismays me that most people do not take time to notice.
I also noticed that the buds on my Tree Peonies were more noticeable than last week, hmm what could this mean??? Spring is less than 100 days away and still no snow.
I have noticed that the yew (aka deer dessert) have diminished in size since September…I know my yard is a deer walk through, but not a fast food walk through for the growing deer population in my area. As I consider my Spring plant purchases, I will definitely replace these yews with something a little less tasty. As every gardener knows, the garden is ever-changing.
The shrinking Hydrangea’s, I will spray with a deer repellant that I purchased earlier in the year….on the next warm day. I stupidly thought that the deer no longer found my year appealing – why I fool myself I do not know. My neighbors are even wondering what in the world do we do about the deer? That remains to be seen on many levels. I choose to plant things that might be fragrant and unappealing to their taste buds.
So as I share on my first musing of this year, I just know that the snow fairy will come. She will spread some snow to blanket my garden and give me an excuse to curl up in my reading corner with my seed catalogs, garden design magazines and a big cup of something warm to dream of Spring……..I am waiting…….
by 
