Snow Magic

Waking up to new fallen snow on the first day of a new year was magical, and a wonderful symbol of making a fresh start. 

The snow was light and fluffy, and made a wonderful crunch under my boots as I wandered in the garden. Now you can come with me.

There. And you didn't even have to put your boots on or get cold.

Much of the snow is sticking around now, but not prettily.  Streets are clear but shoulders and sidewalks are icy, making it tricky to go for a walk. We might have to drive out of the neighborhood, since the snow was not very widespread. 

The 2nd day of the new year has now gone dark, and the temperature is 28 and dropping. January is upon us.

What's Blooming January 1st, 2017

Some years ago we heard about an English man who went out into his garden every New Years Day to see what he could find in bloom. We liked the idea and adopted it. Over the years we have recorded photos of New Year blooms when we remembered, or when it wasn't pouring down rain, or except on those infrequent years when we had had such a hard freeze that there was nothing to record. Other years we hadn't even had a frost by January 1st and we had all kinds of blooms.

This year was sort of in between, and I went out with my camera to record what I could find. I cheated, however, and took my photos December 31st, because I had a pretty good idea that by the next morning it would be hard to find the blooms.

Yep, snow coveres the flowers on January 1. My wind spinner does look like a flower, doesn't it? 

But on Saturday, I found this:

Primroses

 Now looking like this. 

 Kaffir lily looking bedraggled, but a bloom

 Now wearing a feather boa.

It has been cold and the birth bath was frozen.

Winter jasmine keeps trying to sustain blooms

 but this might do it in for good. 

Roses persist in spite of the frost and snow. 

I found one straggly cranes bill geranium.

 Viburnum davidii looks like it's going to bloom long before it does. 

 Viburnum burkwoodii always teases with a few opened buds long before it bursts into perfumed delight. 

 One remaining cyclamen from the fall blooming varieties.  

 Sarcococca will be ready to  release it's vanilla scent once this week's deep freeze passes. 

 Winter blooming mahonia. We  planted several of these last year in hopes of supplying winter food for hummingbirds. 

 This newly planted laurustinus was looking good. 

 It is not the time for Basket of Gold and candy tuft, but they always keep trying. 

Of course the blanket of snow might thwart them. 

It warmed up to 33 outside and the snow has started to drip, but now I see that the sky is clearing and the sun is out. We will now plunge into low 20's tonight and only get to about freezing during the day this week, so what doesn't melt right now is going to be around for a while. Icy streets and sidewalks will not be fun. 

As you would expect, I do have a bunch of pretty snow pics to post. You can expect some tomorrow.

I'm working on making it a happy new year. I have my gift for today. I hope you find yours.