A few signs of Spring...

 Yes some signs of things to come , Hellebore boldly leading the way on this the last days of January.

                            Oh, and  speckily Helleborus niger'snow fever' closely behind

                                               Rubus lineatus already breaking into leaf

  

And I'm staying warm and dry, trying to perfect the sewing of curves ...very fiddley

After many days of 30+ temps. A mild and dry morning, meant a chance to tidy up the flattened Crocosmia , pull off blackened Bergenia leaves and into the compost bin those untidy Cerenthe Major finally went. Then the clouds and rain ...
The rest of the morning went to those British tea time favorites http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/paul_hollywoods_scones_70005

Frost free zone....

 Somthing I've learned from having heavy frost every morning for the last few weeks, I have two  pockets that are completely frost free. Take this Epimedium lishihchenii planted under my huge Maple and Spruce, the white edging, not frost but the natural markings. But just take a two steps in any direction...frozen plants! Worth taking note!

Yucca 'color guard' at deaths door , from too much wet last winter is again frost free and dry as a bone. I moved what was left of it last spring, near the house, it's half the size from when I bought it. But no ugly black spots or mushy leaves. But again a few feet over, exposed plants like my Andean silver-leaf sage looks like it's just exploded....

More frost and a look back....

Once again I was out early enjoying another fosty morning! Stachyurus salicifolia,which I think I planted in late winter   Last year, with the finest crysal edging

Acicia dealbata with the nodding heads of Eurphobia

This frosty week has prompted me to take a look back at previous  Januarys  ...this was taken on this very day last year!

And this was that winter of 2008 , I remember it well ...  new to the PNW and to gardening , I had no experience with Hardiness,  half hardiness , zones denial  .... I must have lost every South african and South American native that I innocently planted in my exposed garden that year. And have I  learned from that winter ,or was it two winters? NO .....

And another frosty morning...

       So much for warmer temps this week or is it next week? Still a lovely sunny chilly morning.

Danny Kaye born this day one hundred years ago

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January 2013 Bloomday...

January Bloomday always a challange , firstly to get myself out on a grey and miserable day, once out , where  are you
hiding? Here you are, tiny violet under the scraggly  Cerenthe Major .

And here looking a bit battle warn from several frosts , a few Bergenia blooms  tucked  under   the  protection of  the shruby growth.        

And finally a small clump of Iberis umbellata , not the most exciting plant , but so useful this time of year and so forgiving when constantly be trampled by rampaging  dogs.

And for more January Blooms visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens 

Who let the dogs in....

After discovering my Basa transformed into a green goblin in the frosty night. This is what greeted me this morning . Euphorbia or a pack of...something I couldn't quite decide: Big bird,poodlish, afgan houndish ? Or is this winter just getting to me.

Just dreaming....