February, Almost
It's been an extremely mild winter here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Not the warmest I can remember, but temperatures have definitely been above average, with no snow to speak of. Just lots of gray days strung together. I would much prefer blizzards, ice storms, and blinding sun on frigid days. Then spring when it comes is an explosion of warmth, color, and sound. I like contrast and spectacle; it's probably a Leo thing. As it is now, spring promises to slowly creep in without much drama. That's okay too, I'll take it however it comes.
It's almost February so it's time for a "signs of spring" post with a collection (not list) of what growth has been observed. The snowdrops are blooming, but I can't get as excited over this event as I used to. When I first planted them I loved looking for for the first flowers, but now that they are spreading everywhere my ardor has cooled.
Tulips are showing green. Not at my farm though. The deer have my house under surveillance and fall down laughing if they see me planting tulips. Even inside the deer fence tulip bulbs are quickly dispatched by rodents. They are the candy of the flower world apparently. I am only able to enjoy them at my father's property where deer don't venture as close to the house, and the rodents haven't discovered them yet. Right now the leaves are just emerging, but since I promised color in this post, here's a photograph of what's in store.
In contrast to bold, brash tulips, Lenten roses are shy and subtle, and unpalatable to deer. They are not roses at all, but are in the buttercup family, and begin blooming sometime late winter or early spring. Native purists take note: These beauties originated in Europe and Asia. However, they spread pleasantly without being aggressive, and thrive in dry partial shade, so they are very useful in problem spots.
The flowers of Lenten roses sometimes surprise me because they emerge beneath the leaves. Often by the time I remember to check on them they are blooming nicely. I haven't inspected them yet this season, so here's a photo from a previous year.
I don't really have any more signs of spring to offer, but that's probably a good thing. It should be too early to be noticing new green growth, much less flowers, but winter isn't what it used to be, and we probably need to update our notion of what constitutes "real winter." Bright cardinals and bluejays, with the occasional persistent berry, were once the main spots of color in the winter landscape. Let's hope it stays that way for a while.
