Monday, February 03, 2014

Look Down and See Beauty

On a sunny winter's day wandering down the garden it's easy enough to just focus on plants within your immediate level of vision. More often than not though it's also worth looking down to see some beauty, like this Hellebore in bloom that is a cheer to see in winter...


This post was initially inspired by fungi glistening with rain that fell the night before...


But there were others too that were a delight to see on a bright winter's day like...

Magnolia delavayi sprouting from the base. A symbol of hope and recovery from the fire
Saxifrage, Stone, and Moss
Euphorbia x pasteurii
Chrysosplenium macrophyllum

Galanthus - oh yes we have some of these too!
Mahonia eurybracteata (syn. confusa)
I'm so pining for spring now. Or at least the time when we can get fully stuck in mainly into gardening again, whichever comes first. The very thought of gardening is such a huge motivation to finish off all remaining bits of decorating still left to do in the house.

Patience dear patience, it's only winter still!

Mark :-)

24 comments :

  1. I love the first signs of new life in late winter. However, those shiny fungi creep me out. I guess I've seen too many cheap horror movies...

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    1. That made me laugh Gerhard! it does look like some sort of alien growth!

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  2. More signs of life after the fire - it's an inspiration how resilient nature can be!

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    1. Indeed Kris! Just wish a few more would still come back, that'll be a nice bonus :)

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  3. Hi Mark, it amazes me how much is going on in your garden in the middle of winter. Looks like the plants are heading straight for spring already! I love especially the photo with the saxifrage and the stone with the moss. So beautiful shades of green! Hope you two can indulge yourself in gardening again, soon!
    Christina

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    1. Thanks Christina and we hope so! It does help that winter has been mild so far, touch wood and long may it continue!

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  4. well said..Here in northern California February is very inconsistent..some years it is the dead of winter and some years it is spring. With the drought issue this year is a toss up--

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    1. Same here, some years February can be really cold and dreary and on some years really mild. Hope you guys get some rain soon!

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  5. Always a good reminder to look at the ground level, but especially this time of year!

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    1. Indeed Loree :) And also interesting to see what curious things one can find at ground level!

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  6. Your mahonia confusa is beautiful and I love stones with moss :-)

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  7. You have the blooms to indicate Spring isn't far away. We have a Winter storm ready to hit us again starting today. This seems like a never ending Winter for us, but I keep counting down the months and look forward to this gardening season also.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Hopefully the storms won't be that bad Cher, and then after that hopefully it will a smooth coast to spring for you guys, cross fingers! :)

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  8. The fungi looks so interesting. Is it edible? The moss make the garden looks so natural, beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Endah :) not sure about the fungi but its likely to be not edible

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  9. A good reminder guys, at this time of year, it is the small details, the emerging bulbs, the fresh growth on much loved plants (and the relief this engenders!). Many things to glad about and to keep the spirits up.

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    1. Indeed Janet :) the hellebore in blooms and snowdrops emerging are promises of spring that are nice to see.

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  10. Beautiful indeed! We have to remind ourselves that these plants are winter bloomers and not signs of spring although I'm very much looking forward to spring as well! We had mild dry weather for a time making us think that spring was coming early and now the temperatures have plunged below freezing and are predicted to get even colder as the week progresses. Yikes, it's still winter after all.

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    1. Colder temperatures again Peter, what a sharp reminder that it's winter still! Hopefully temps there won't get any worse and the cold spell will shorter lived than expected, cross fingers!

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  11. Everything seems to be happening at ground level right now. I discovered so many hopeful buds as I was cutting back dead stalks.

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  12. I love this time of year. It's hard to be stuck inside when it's freezing but the new buds are showing themselves every day . . . and it will only get better from here on out!

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  13. I thought that fungi was really pretty. But at first I thought it was sap. LOL Tomorrow I'm going out to explore and play with my new camera. Getting ready for spring!

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