I Didn't Shiver Today!

For the first time in a week, I didn't shiver when I went outside today. I got some photos during one of those shiver sessions: 

There was snow!

Not the kind of deep snow that fell up north but enough to remind us that it's still winter.

My courtyard fountain is apparently the coldest of all my water features. Here it is right before things started to warm up.

 

Weather wuss that I am, that is all the photos I took of the snow.

I don't think the low temperature dropped below 28 degrees so my plants did just fine, even the tenders I keep on my covered patio. I put a blanket over some of them, and also my Melianthus. It is still a bit bent out of shape but alive. 

Melianthus major

On the aforementioned covered patio, Fuchsia 'Tricolor' is blooming. This is a baffling plant. It didn't bloom at all during the summer months and just a few in the fall. I don't mind though. Winter bloomers are very special.

 

Fuchsia 'Tricolor'

I'm always surprised how early the Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii) sends up its tiny blades.

Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii)

There are plants that would be blooming now if it hadn't been for that cold snap. For instance my new Prunus mume 'Kobai' (not pictured). And of course Daphne odora. 

Daphne odora

And this Rosemary in my front yard. See all those buds? And the sweet little friend? I noticed not one but two bright red lady beetles sleeping on those fragrant stems.  

Rosemarianus officinalis and friend

 And we can't forget our little Dougie-the-birdseed-stealer. (Douglas Squirrel)

This duo are regular visitors to my front yard. They've come to expect the apples we toss to them. On this visit I had my camera handy. (All of those brown balls are from my Sweet Gum trees.)

That about does it for this go around. Spring is not far off now and I'm SO ready! 

Thanks for visiting.

Round Two: This Winter Hates Me

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT'S all about me, right? To tell you the truth I had a strong suspicion we'd see more cold weather before winter's final farewell so this doesn't really surprise me. I mean, look what the rest of the country has endured. Even my friends in Texas and Florida are seeing colder than normal temps. 

Fortunately my supervisor at work is a very understanding human being, well aware of my propensity to panic if I'm on snowy roads. I'm stay-cationing, watching the snowflakes pile up into heaps and mounds.

Here is my trusty-rusty-under-the-covered-patio thermometer at 10 AM this morning.   

About 25 degrees F

 And my-out-in-the-middle-of-the-garden thermometer.

About 21 degrees F.

The pillar isn't crooked. The photographer was feeling the chill and didn't have the patience
to hold the camera steady. 

However, in the midst of my blubbering about the weather, there is good news to share! It started when Tammy of Casa Mariposa fame alerted me to Oregon blogger Susan Troccolo's Life-Change-Compost blog. Susan was running a contest for the best advice on redesigning her shady front garden bed. Never known for my brevity, I launched right in to all the things I would do if I were undertaking such a challenge in my garden. Well, Susan was apparently pleased because lookie what came in the mail! 

I went a little overboard purchasing seeds this year and was trying to figure out how I was going to get them all going. I already have one heat mat and yippee now I have two. 

Thank you Susan for your generosity. If you've got a few minutes, please hop over and say hi to Susan.