The winner of the snowstorm drawing is MIM.
Because the last prize was not claimed, you will win double the samples (200 g) plus some extra bonuses that depend on your shipping address. Please contact me with your full name and shipping address. You can e-mail olympicorchids at gmail dot com or leave a message on the Olympic Orchids Facebook page.
After two weeks the snow is finally melting, and there are now patches of bare ground. They look so pretty after the solid white! I’m continually seeing new surprises from under the snow. Who would have thought that cyclamen flowers could stand having the weight of two feet of snow on top of them, let alone the cold temperatures? Yesterday, for the first time, I saw the cyclamen flowers that had been blooming before the snow started, slowly uncovered, apparently with no ill effects. Similarly, the crocuses, daffodils, and tulips that have been uncovered seem not to have minded the snow too much. The hellebores, which were in full bloom, got beaten down a little, but the bent stems make nice cut flowers for inside the house.
A week before the show we planted a sarcococca bush, seduced by the strong fragrance of the little flowers. It was completely buried in snow, with not a leaf showing, and I was worried about it. However, now that its covering has melted away, it looks perfectly healthy. The jasmine we planted last year didn't fare so well. It was completely covered, too, and now the leaves look brown. However, the leaves near the base are still green, so maybe there’s hope. Spring will reveal what’s left of it, if anything.
[Photos are mine from this week]
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Your cyclamen flowers are gorgeous! I'm looking forward to my snowdrops popping thru and all those colorful pansies at my local nurseries. Soon we will all be enjoying our spring blooming jewels.
ReplyDeleteMary, I don't think snowdrops grow here, but I think the pansies survived the snow, too. And the primroses are blooming away. You're in the drawing.
DeleteThankfully we have not had much snow but as it is getting a little brighter now i have noticed all the pure white of the snowdrops beside the wonderful purple of the crocus - so beautiful. I could look at them all day. I think that nature teaches us that no matter how harsh things are for a while, that beauty appears eventually.....
ReplyDeletePats, I was thinking the same thing, that the flowers symbolize hope for better times and beauty eventually emerging no matter what. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteMonths after he lost them, we found my husband’s keys in the melted snow. Now, with children, we find all sorts of winter play debris... parts of snowmen, snowball and snow brick makers, a homemade shield, small toys. All the layers of things lost and buried by snowstorms. My favorite treasures popping out of the snow are my Hellebores.... often they are blooming a month before our lastt bit odd now is gone.
ReplyDeleteEW, I really relate to the key story. While clearing away debris in the garden I once found a whole ring of keys that I had lost years before. They were a little rusty, but still worked. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteNo snow here -but does the recent eclipse count? It was so vivid! Also, I was driving to work lately and saw a barn owl in my neighbor‘s tree. It was huge with feather horns / quite an amazing sight!
ReplyDeleteLeah, the eclipse counts. So does the barn owl. The surprises that nature provides! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteI live in the city, there's nothing really new that I have found once the snow melted, its just nice to see it start to melt and hopefully spring will come soon to end the constant snow and your jasmine will start to bloom again!
ReplyDeleteNelle, I agree that it's nice to see the snow melt. The jasmine looks like it's still alive. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteWe haven’t had much snow this winter but we recently had massive yard work done with backhoes, dump trucks and everything. We uncovered quite a few interesting items including what I think are one or two Native American artifacts.
ReplyDeleteAnne, how cool to uncover Native American artifacts! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteWe had a lot of snow here the past couple of days. Much of it has started to melt away today, though. Just as I was peering out of the window today, I saw a squirrel standing on the balcony, nibbling away at the seeds I'd left out for it a few days ago, and which the snow had until now been hiding. I think he was very surprised to see me!
ReplyDeleteMari, maybe the squirrels bury their seeds in the snow! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteI have never even heard of a sarcococca but now I am intrigued!
ReplyDeleteI love it when it snows--the blanketing quiet, the smell of it, the mesmerizing fall... But after it's done falling not so much.
I hope your plants are as well as can be
And thank you (dnem this week)
Mim, I got your message. I also love the falling snow, but not the after-effects. All of my plants seem to be just fine. Check out the scent of sarcococca! We were in a big nursery building and followed our noses to it, it was that strong.
ReplyDelete