Posts tagged ‘learning to love winter’
Flowers + snow
Winter on the west coast is at its best when flowers and snow collide. Take these two scenes: above is a picture of a cherry tree in bloom just off Davie Street and Burrard in Vancouver’s west end. I took this picture today when I was wandering around on my lunch break. This seems shockingly early for cherry blossoms, but the photographic evidence speaks for itself.
And below, in the same neighbourhood on the same day, just a few hours earlier, is the view from my office window of the 20-minute snowstorm we experienced this morning in Vancouver. It was a great start to my week to be able to gaze out into the swirl over emails and Monday morning coffee. (more…)
Like this:
Spring bulbs already sprouting!
It’s hard to believe, but the first shoots of snowdrops and crocuses are peeking up in gardens around the neighbourhood, including mine. This photo was taken yesterday afternoon, which you can see was lovely and sunny compared to today’s drizzle and grey. (more…)
Like this:
Still growing
It’s hard to believe that there are still things growing as we enter the first part of December, but look at this: a blooming pink primula that has come back to life after the heat of summer. These tough flowers continue to thrive in our little garden and this one is adding a welcome spark of brightness right now.
First flower spotted: snowdrops
I spotted my first flowers of the year a few days ago: a couple of snowdrops blooming on my patio. I planted a handful of bulbs last fall hoping for spring blooms, and here they are already. I wish I’d planted a hundred more.
There are other plants in my garden right now – ivy, bamboo and violets all survive the winter here in Vancouver – but the snowdrops are the first sign of growth. Two seasons wrapped up into one tiny flower – a shoot of green and snowy white that pushes us to accept the thin hope of spring while chilly grey days with gloves and scarves continue for a little longer.
Plants are always the perfect gift
Our sweet neighbours brought over this hibiscus plant as a gift when they joined us for a glass of bubbly on New Year’s Eve. They’ve watched me spend endless hours puttering around our tiny garden and become wise to the fact that plants are always the perfect gift. The plant even came with a name – Judy.
Hibiscus plants are beautiful and I’ve always wanted one. It’s resting as directed in bright sunlight (well, as much sunlight as one gets in during a west coast winter) on the desk in my studio. I hope it lasts for years and years. I’ve seen hibiscus trees for sale at garden stores, plants like this one that have been pruned into a 3 or 4 foot tall tree. There is something wonderfully tropical about these plants that’s particularly restorative in January: if I close my eyes and take a deep breath I can almost imagine myself wandering through a seaside garden in Hawaii and sipping in the sun.
