Rainy Tuesday

Rainy day here.  I shouldn't be surprised that my two young dogs bring all the wet and mud back inside with them.  Ah youth. 

Excited that February is almost done.  The first of the crocus (yellows for me) are blooming. 






The long foliage hanging over the crocus belongs to sternbergia lutea.  It will disappear soon, not to be seen again until fall. 




Note how the crocus foliage appears snipped.  It is indeed and my guess would be rabbits.  Rotten things.  My cats are getting older (they'll be 12 this spring) and prefer being inside most nights and especially nights like tonight when the weather is unpleasant (cold and windy rain).  I can't blame them; however, it's been many years since I've had to deal with rabbits...thanks to them.  Let's hope they get back on the job soon. 



A couple more, popping out from the old daylily foliage. 

Below, some hardy cyclamen looking a little weather-worn...




Finally, a personal harbinger of spring...larkspur seedlings.  These are offspring of some from the Mary Washington House days.  I look forward to them every year.  There were so many weeds in this area, that I had to really pay attention when weeding not to inadvertenly yank them out, too.

Snowdrops Continued

Here are a couple that I find do have distinguishing appearances:



Pictured above is Merlin.



Pictured above is Viridapice.

And, here are a couple that were new last year, blooming this year...





I'm happy they're both blooming, but they look quite alike to me...much like others I have.  No matter, I hope they continue to increase as they are still lovely.  I'm just not sure whether they're worth a label (smile)....

Snowdrop Season

Belated welcome to 2013.  Outside, the snowdrops are blooming...at least those that have decided they like it well enough here. 



S. Arnott pictured above.

For the first time in a number of years, I'm not planning to add any new snowdrops.  The differences are, for the most part, too subtle for me to see.  Add in a survival rate of maybe 50% and it becomes a game I am less interested in playing.

 

Don's Big Seedling pictured above.

Those that are surviving here are (in my plans, that is) going to be moved to line my front walkway.  Some are there now, but others are scattered here and there.  It's nice to appreciate them and that will be much easier when they're all in the same general area. 



Mrs. Backhouse #12 and Straffan pictured above.

One day, I still would love to visit the UK during snowdrop season.  Many pictures I see from there show so many varieties that are simply unavailable here.  And, the glory of it all, to see endless sweeps of them would be inspiring.



Winifred Mathais pictured above.

Perhaps one day (sooner), I will make it to Winterthur where I understand they have large areas of snowdrops.  It appears they reopen on March 1st. 



John Gray pictured above.

I think I have a couple of doubles that have survived but are not in bloom.  Doubles, especially, seem to not like it here.  Since the blooms last for quite a while, I will keep attempting to snag a few more pictures of some that aren't featured today.



An unknown snowdrop pictured above.

Also in bloom are the first of the crocus (yellow), some hardy cyclamen and hellebores.  It's challenging (that's part of the fun) to capture the hellebores as so many like to hang their heads  However, the beauty contained there, especially the doubles, makes it so worth it.  Last year, I removed a number of dark flowered ones that no longer pleased me.  It seems that light colored flowers and white ones show up so much nicer against their foliage. 

Many changes around here making for no excuses for lack of things to talk about and share. 

Here's a taste:



Lucy and Rudy.