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| A Preview of What's to Come in Spring - Pink Rose from Bouquet |
This winter has been more of a true winter with cold temperatures that fit with a normal winter for our region compared to last winter when the daffodils were blooming in January because of the warm temperatures. I love the snow of winter and yearn for it when it does not come frequently enough, but with daffodils beginning to bloom and signs of growth here and there, I am anxiously awaiting spring.
stats
Gardening Zone: 7a
February High Temperature: 57 degrees F
February Low Temperature: 18 degrees F
Precipitation: 1.37 inches
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| Birds Feeding During Snowfall |
wildlife
I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count earlier in February. What birds did you see in the garden? These are my counts:
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Mourning Dove - 5
Great Horned Owl - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 3
Carolina Chickadee - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 3
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Carolina Wren - 1
American Robin - 7
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Song Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 7
Northern Cardinal - 5
House Finch - 8
American Goldfinch - 11
House Sparrow - 1
Northern Flicker - 2
American Crow - 9
Eastern Bluebird - 6
European Starling - 1
The squirrel likes the feeder, too. He jumps onto the feeder from the deck railing and quickly leaps off when I come, leaving the feeder swinging from side to side.
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| Squirrel Sitting in Bird Feeder |
The cardinal showcases his crimson feathers in the winter landscape.
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| Male Cardinal in the Forest |
what's Blooming, sprouting
Some daffodils are blooming, but most are in bud form.
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| Yellow Daffodil in the Rain |
Hydrangeas are budding even with some of the old leaves hanging nearby.
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| The Old with the New - Hydrangea Buds |
It is so nice to see the roses beginning to leaf out.
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| Knock-out Roses |
The lilies are breaking through the surface.
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| Daylilies Beginning to Break Through the Ground |
The hellebores are still blooming.
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| Hellebores |
The hyacinth blooms I had indoors were lovely at their peak.
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| Hyacinth |
in the garden
I still have Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, and cabbage in the vegetable garden. I sowed peas indoors, and they are almost ready to be planted in the vegetable bed.
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| Pea Plants Indoors |
completed chores
cleared away plant debris and leaves in some plant beds
sowed peas indoors (Cascadia)
chores for March
clear away plant debris and leaves in remaining plant beds
weed garden beds
prune raspberry bush
prune back liriope
test soil
spread lime
spread compost
observations
During one of our recent snowfalls, I captured the snowflakes in macro. They appear as tiny little crystal star creations with intricate and delicate details.
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| Snowflakes |
products
Sandra Knauf, editor and publisher of Greenwoman Magazine and Flora's Forum, is offering The Sage Butterfly readers a free copy of the magazine by signing up on the mailing list on the magazine web site. I read the latest issue and enjoyed all the beauty and humor the magazine offers. It is a lovely experience that she has created with this magazine which matches the heart of any gardener so well.
Sandra is also looking for submissions and ads for the next issue, the Summer/Fall issue.
What's in your Garden Notebook for March?
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I am joining in the following:
Helen of The Patient Gardener hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.
And The Gardening Blog for Garden Bloggers Harvest Day, a monthly meme where bloggers can show off their gardens.
© copyright 2013 Michelle A. Potter
Good morning! Such a pleasure to visit you blog site, and awe at the beautiful photos! March marks the beginning of spring/summer season at the place I reside. Will be a riot of colors when the plants/trees start flowering. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Asha. Spring will be officially here in a few days, and I am so looking forward to it.
DeleteThose pictures are art! Cardinal looks great. What a color!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I am so glad you enjoyed your visit.
Deletewow! such a wonderful experience to spend time here on your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sweet Liberty. It is so nice to see you here, and I am so glad you enjoyed your visit.
DeleteI loved seeing the squirrel in the feeder! Also enjoyed seeing the daffodils, hellebores, and hyacinth. I can see that spring is on its way in your corner of the world!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Beth. Spring is on its way, for sure. We are having snow today and tomorrow, but I doubt it will stick.
DeleteWe are not 'that' far apart, geographically, but I do not have a single daffodil blooming yet. Only 2 crocuses have bloomed and I'm waiting on everything...except the snowdrops and hellebores...many of which haven't gone beyond the bud stage. NO daylily greens are popping up either! I must be just far enough north that our climates are slightly different. I'm in zone 7A...as I thought you were, too...but that really means nothing, does it!?! LOL. Don't you love how the goldfinches are beginning to brighten up lately?!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how subtle, yet different, the changes are in our gardens, Jan. About half of my daffodils are blooming now. And oddly enough, the crocuses are just now beginning to bloom. And I do love watching the transformation in those goldfinch feathers.
DeleteLots of industry on your part AND beautiful flowers! Makes me feel like a slug.... ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL! I am sure you have lots to do with all those lovely sheep. :)
DeleteLovely to see so many signs of spring, soon we will be rushing to keep up with everything! Lots of plants are rushing to flower here, but the cold spell is now holding them back - we need some sunshine!!
ReplyDeleteYes...there will be that rush. I am looking forward to it, but I know there will come a time when I am exhausted. :)
DeleteSo much good stuff, but I have to say I was taken with your snowflake shot, just awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. I want to keep trying to get better shots of snowflakes. The snow has to be the right consistency. :)
DeleteThis winter the temperatures have been more "normal" for us, too, except I think we've had less rainfall than usual. Your bird count is impressive. How fun to see so many different woodpeckers - especially the pileated! I don't think I've ever seen such detail of a hellebore bloom. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWe, too, have not had as much rain as we need. I am hoping spring brings lots and lots to make up for the deficit. Thanks, Holley.
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ReplyDeleteThis year's winter has been with us long enough, and we have it. For me, only snowdrops are shown. In you there are many signs of spring and the daffodils bloom. The tray you had a lot of birds, but the sight of squirrels also pleased me. Yours.
ReplyDeleteSpring does seem to give us a peek only to have winter push it out of the way. It is snowing now, but it will not stick because the weather will be too warm tomorrow. I am looking forward to spring. Thank you, Giga.
DeleteI love the picture of the hellebores. So interesting and pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are such a delight when there is nothing else blooming.
DeleteWe participated in the GBBC too. It was so much fun and a great learning experience for our kids. Your snowflake macro is fabulous but it sure is nice to see the first signs of spring poking up through the soil!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy counting the birds. I usually just watch them, so it is fun to actually count them. Thank you, Karin. I am looking forward to spring, too.
DeleteI wanted to participate in the GBBC but was out of town for most of the days. You got a great variety of birds. And I love the birdfeeder with the angels!
ReplyDeleteI was glad I timed my count for when the birds seem to frequent the feeders. They turned out in great numbers.
DeleteSimply beautiful and beautifully simple, Michelle. I love your work!
ReplyDeleteSince we are zone 5A here in Nova Scotia, we have at least a month to get to where you are today. Love that Hellebore!
Sometimes I do wish our winters were longer and more snowy, but then when the daffodils begin to bloom I am glad I get to see them sooner. Thank you so much for stopping by, Jim.
DeleteI saw some daffs blooming in a neighbors yard but I must have a later blooming variety because mine are still putting out foliage with no buds yet. When you're counting birds do you ever worry that you counted the same bird twice?
ReplyDeleteAbout half of the daffodils are blooming now. It is truly a wonderful sign that spring is coming. I try very hard not to count the birds twice, but I suppose there is no guarantee. I count very fast before they move from their current locations.
DeleteI love all your photos as you make even the most ordinary of things look beautiful, such as the day lilies shooting up through the dead foliage. Your bird feeder is gorgeous! My favourite shot here is the cardinal in the forest. Your chores list sounds very familiar - right, I need to get out and get digging and tidying and weeding..... :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Mandy. I still need to get out there and tidy up some more. Maybe later in the week when it is a bit warmer....I hope.
DeleteSuch beautiful photographs. I have no idea what most of those birds are, but maybe my English garden birds would seem exotic to you, in any case I'd say our gardens were at a similar point, I've got primroses, snowdrops, crocuses and early daffs out, everything else is starting to bud. I think spring might be on the way
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. Most likely your birds would be foreign to me. I am quite familiar with the birds on the east coast (USA), but even some of the birds on the west coast are a bit foreign to me. There are so many birds. It is so nice to see the signs of spring.
DeleteYour list of birds is very impressive! Though I don't know most of them either. I participated in the UK bird count and my report was the 2 wood pigeons on my roof. Spring is definitely arriving in our gardens, my chore list for March is depending on weather, but not too long yet - I need warmer weather first!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helene. I try to start counting when there are a lot of them at the feeders. We have had some warm days, but there are still those very cold days.
DeleteAll your photos are good and my favourite is the one of the Hellebore where the stamens and stigma were captured so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stiletto. I just love seeing those in the winter.
DeleteBeautiful photos as ever, and a timely reminder that I really must prune my hydrangeas. What do you sow your peas in?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet. I sow my peas in soilless seed starting mix. It works really well.
DeleteLove your peas :) Like Janet, I'd like to know the medium in which you start seeds (such as pea seeds).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Aaron. I start my peas in soilless seed starting mix. I have used it for several years with good success.
DeleteWonderful macros of the snowflakes! And your garden is full of spring activity! Lovely. I noticed that your watermark is different. Do you used a special program for it? Great post, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth. I use Picasa to create the watermark.
DeleteLovely post, your birdfeeder with the squirrel is real gorgeous. At your place it is earlier than here in western Europe. Hellebores have just started, daffodils are just above the soil. Yesterday we had our first mild weather day, so have been busy in the garden. Also started carefully with pruning roses and Hydrangeas. Yes, spring is coming.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to see the differences in various regions. I still have so much to do.
DeleteGreat pics, Michelle! I love the most a winter landscape and red cardinal. I'm glad spring is in your garden now, the rose leaves are so tender and young, lilies are growing.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Sunday!
Thanks so much, Nadezda. Spring is making its way, and the signs are so lovely.
DeleteYour spring garden is waking up. Mine is covered in snow so not much to see in my garden journal tomorrow. A few birds for GBBC but too snowy for many. I started my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant indoors to plant out in May. I can't wait to sow peas in late March. Looking forward to checking out Greenwoman.
ReplyDeleteSpring is so welcome after this long winter. I am looking forward to getting out there in the garden.
DeleteBeautiful post. Your bird feeder images are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna.
DeleteI am beginning to really appreciate the exceptional flowering period of hellebores. Well done on spotting so many birds - when we did our count, we spent a very disappointing hour (weather/local tree-felling/bird scarers didn't help).
ReplyDeleteAll beautiful photos as always - but that one of snow demands another look and I'm scrolling back up there right now.
I want to plant more hellebores because they are so nice in the winter. I tried to choose a time when the birds would be feeding at the feeders.
DeleteI love that dreamy rose photo. No daffodil buds yet in my garden; but I do have daylily foliage pushing up, and I think I saw the first red nubs of bleeding hearts showing. I do find myself feeling impatient after last year's early spring. -Jean
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jean. I have enjoyed our true winter, but I am now anxious for spring. To see all that color is a lure I am thirsty for.
DeleteSome folks get annoyed with the squirrels but its hard not to engage with them when you see shots such as this.-
ReplyDeleteI agree, Alistair. Sometimes they are just too cute. :)
DeleteHow tiny those cherubs look next to the fluffy squirrel :) We had some very chilly temperatures this year as well but were lacking a thick snow cover. Once again I'm worrying about drought this summer.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't have drought. We have not reached our expected rainfall for this year, so I hope we make up for it before summer arrives. If only those cherubs could be more like sentinels, but then again I could not get cute little squirrel captures.
DeleteI can't believe it - I have the exact same hanging birdbath except my cherubs are all facing inward with their feet in the water. I never thought to use it as a feeder in the winter, great idea (except for the squirrel :) Not much happening in my March garden, we're still waiting for the snow to leave. I love your macro of the snowflakes, they look like glass shards.
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting. This one was a gift from my mother. I replace the hummingbird feeder with this one to supplement the food for the birds, but the squirrels do get some, too. :)
DeleteYou are so very well organized with all your chores. I wish I could plan my days instead of rushing from one job to another at the nursery. the squirrel is so cute!
ReplyDeleteI try to be organized, but I still forget things. I am sure there is so much to do at the nursery.
DeleteSo nice to see Spring springing forth somewhere... certainly not here. More snow in the forecast. Still optimistic all will change on March 20th... the first day of Spring! If I say that out loud perhaps she will actually come and stay for a season. Your Garden Journal is inspiring... I must do better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carolyn. I try to stay organized otherwise it would all get out of hand. I hope you have a lovely spring.
DeleteI don't keep precise stats like you do, but I think we've had a fairly mild winter. I usually "measure" it by how quickly the buds appear on my hydrangeas, but I probably should keep a better journal. I don't have much in my notebook for March, I just hope we won't get any more snow in DC. I'm ready for warmer weather and I need to start seeds.
ReplyDeleteThe meteorologists said that January was the coldest winter in decades. And the following months were similar. Last year my daffodils began to bloom in mid-January, and this year the first ones opened at the first of March. It has been a cold winter, however we have not had many snow storms. I am ready for spring, too.
DeleteWhat a selection of birds! I see that you don't have those pesky pigeons in your garden.
ReplyDeleteNo, the closest we have are the Mourning Doves, but I prefer them to pigeons. Thanks!
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