What's in doing in your part of the country??? Pt.2

Cheery birdfeeder Betty! I'm doing a cross stitch that reminds me of spring to ease up the blahs but really I'm not sure that it's working.
Whoa Ann! Having been in your backyard on a good day, that sight sure amazes me!
We've got it bad here but no so bad as you all up there! This truly is a winter to remember.

Erynne

Quite different in Montana. My abutilons are all in bloom sunny and beautiful today. Though I do miss the powder fluff after a big snow.

Wow! I had no idea that the snow would be gone so early in Montana.
Lovely flowers.

Ann

I am not lying about the snow and sun. Just the Abutilon. I have over wintered them in the house now for 3 years and they continue to bloom year round. I love the miracle of their continuous bloom. Soon I will harden them and put them outside again. They will get over 10' tall this year.

Lol, and here I was ready to call you a show off Steve for having flowers blooming!


Erynne

Nice bird feeder Betty, your pretty good with tools. I always am tempted to try something, but it on rare occasion I finish a project.
Had our snow storm today, not as much as predicted, but still too much.
This is my front yard today.

I just posted a bunch of winter pics on SmugMug - http://violaann.smugmug.com/gallery/4484129_49Tby/1/263878048_kocTC

Went out into the back yard again on snow shoes and today, I walked right over one fence which was still showing yesterday.

Ann

Oh my, you poor guys, all that awful snow! Hang in there; it's only 12 days until Spring... Ü


Joanne
(in balmy +12C, snowless Calgary)

Really, no snow Joanne!!! I can't wait to see that. Will probably be at the end of June, here LOl.

Ann; went and looked at your pictures, Did you make those lights with ice? Looks really cool. I had seen instruction for them, somewhere.

Balmy, snowless Calgary? Joanne, that just doesn't sound right......I think you need some snow.

I wonder what it's doing in the middle of our great country? I've heard that Saskatchewan and to the west is good, Ontario and eastward is awful, but nada about Manitoba. They're just being quiet I guess :o)

Erynne

It is hard to imagine that much snow...boy it will be messy when it melts

Will probably have some bad flooding, when it starts melting.

All I can do is shake my head in amazement. Such a huge amount of snow, again & again. I've been through many a cold and snowy winter, 10 years in Ont, 6 years in NB and 3 years above the arctic circle. As I mentioned in another thread, you have my respect. It would just be rude of me to mention anything about my weather and what's blooming. Hang in there you snow bunnies, it'll melt soon.

Linda

burn - Lee Valley Tools http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=1&p=52307&cat=4,104,53218 sells a mold for the ice lanterns. I'm involved with running an emergency food cupboard; so I have access to lots of freezers if the weather doesn't cooperate for storing them outside until needed.

Ann

Hey Linda. Pics of blooms might be just what the doctor ordered for us right now! Then we can at least dream of what will eventually be coming our way :-)

--Ginny, who's only under another 8" of new snow but feeling like it's at least 8'!

Ann - forgot to say - those ice lanterns are very cool! Enjoyed the pix of your snowy landscape as well...

Lack of snow here is making winter sowing feel kind of weird; poor milk jugs just sitting out there all naked with no snow cover on them...

Linda, it's not rude at all. Now come on and show us some pics to lift our snow-laden spirits!

Erynne

Hi Erynne, haven't been gabbing with you for awhile..can't wait to get to Gatrix Lily farm..seems a long way off...but I am thinking of gardening..are your renovations now complete..long time coming right?

Anne, I bought 4 molds from Lee Valey which is the next street over to where I work in the city..was going to make some at Christmas time using cedar, cranberries etc. - tried a few but couldn't get them out of the mold..do you put water to the top or just the top where the little tip comes out??? Finally I put the molds away and said I'd wait for another day..thought it might make great center pieces for family b.b.q. and a reminder of the winter that was and the winter to come..lol..just what they need..

Newscasters said that Toronto to date have gotten 6'8" of snow..think we in the northern country got even more...are calling for rising temps..hoping not too hot, can't imagine where all the melting snow would go, or can't I..think maybe my basement.. I've a sump pump, a back up battery operated sump pum and a water alarm should I be sleeping and it start to come in so I've done everything within my power to accommodate...once it starts (as with most springs) I usually make a trench but lordy the ground is so frozen even that wouldn't help..best not to worry till it happens right..more snow for tomorrow night but in no great quantities...

Yes, we sure would like to see some flowers..would brighten up our day...

Bettypauze - I put the molds upside down in the kitchen sink, fill the center with warm water, set the oven timer for about 30 minutes and go away. They will usually come out when I return, but sometimes they need a bit more warm water in the center.

And re the snow - we will be hoping for a slow, gradual warming in spring. If it gets warm fast we'll have flooding for sure. But the sun already has warmth to it and the banks begin to recede a bit as long as the sun shines. Today looks like a good one.

Ann

Thanks Ann, will try one at Easter, perhaps I can add a few plstic easter eggs to it and some flower petals...don't want to give up on it..girlfriend did her steps and drive last year and it was gorgeous..as was yours!

Amen to the melting..won't be doing so today though it was -29 when I left home for the city...

here's some flowers for you, some of the 50+ pictures for you today.

crocuses

japonica pieres

rhodo

crocus field

shooting stars, maybe.

Have a busy day, just out the door again and won't be home till after 10 pacific.

Hang in there you guys.

couldn't leave with out daffodils

or a tree in flower

Oh so beautiful Linda, I just love you last pic.

Nice Sunny day today.

Beautiful - thanks Linda, for sending us a little touch of spring :-)

--Ginny

Oh Linda, thanks for bringing us hope. We haven't had a lot more snow lately, but we blow in a lot when the wind is from the south. I think we went all winter this year without any thawing. Today it went above freezing. Think I'll ever see crocuses under there?

Linda, your pics remind of the flowers I saw last year, at this exact time in March, when I was in your province. Thank you for posting; I needed that! I think we may visit again next year to ease the winter blahs. When we went over to Victoria, I think the most memorable sight was all the moss growing on the tree trunks and some roofs. Oh and in one of the gardens at Butchart...very nice to touch!

Betty, the reno is done however, we just sold the house and are moving to Erin. When we get settled in the new house after a year or so, I may have to go through another reno,lol. As for Gratrix, I just don't know if I'll get there this year and if I do, it would be late in the season in time to plant lilies. I have to get my new garden established and my main focus will be my hosta garden(s). I may not have the gumption to do much else except enjoy my new surroundings but we'll see!

Hello Brenda! I was wondering how it was out your way but now I see that you're just as cold and snowy as ourselves. Glad to hear that you've been spared the addition of more snow. The highest temp we will see today is zero and the weather thing says there is a 100% chance of ....you guessed it....more light snow....ugh.

Erynne

So cute, Erynne moving to Erin..have to check where it is, know I should but I've drawn a blank...did you know you were moving when you started the major renovations? wow that was an undertaking..

Sunshine here in the city..great ride in..made it in record time 1 hr. 20 minutes (nope, my driver did not obey the speed limit)...

Photo's are wonderful Linda..we can only dream...

Once spring arrives or rather once the snow disappears, I'll be spending all my time after work and weekends playing in the garden..don't think I've ever been so focused on gardening before, guess I'm starting to see some results..

Hope it's sunshine in your neck of the woods..

Edited to say:

Was considering a mulching machine.. have any of you purchased one? Is it of value?



This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 11:23 AM

Betty, we knew we would sell the house, it was just a matter of when. The house couldn't be sold with the kitchen in the state it was in for sure.
Erin, is south west of Orangeville so that general area.

Erynne who's moving to Erin :o)

Didn't realize it snowed so much last night..just went out to start the car and we've about 4-6 inches I would say..enough for my plowman to make yet another trip...

Scrolled back up to look at those beautiful flowers...one day!

If the weather isn't the nicest in your area, stay home, feet up, coffee in hand and enjoy a day of leisure..bet you are saying, you could only hope to do so...lol..but do be safe..

Finally a touch of the promised sun. Unfortunately I need to drive to my parents house and backfill an old oil tank (for heating) with sand. I was kinda wanting to visit UBC botanical garden to get more Rhodie pics. My neighbours Clematis started to bloom and then someone promptly came along and harvested the blooms not long after I took this picture.

Clematis armandii (Evergreen Clematis)

Lying horizontal in an 8' oil tank under 4' of soil with a small hole was not fun. It would have been easier if my mother hadn't thrown sand through the small hole while I was inside. It was like a coffin and now I smell of petroleum. Thank goodness it didn't rain.

I got a free truckload of sand which I promptly put on the lawn and I think spring is here and I haven't noticed frost in a bit. The Helleborus in my frontyard is in nice bloom. Not as showy as some of the other hybrids but still nice.

Is beautiful! Wow that sounds as though it was quite an undertakig..enjoy your photo's..keeps me dreaming..
They are calling for 4 degrees today and say it will be a struggle to get there..possible snow and could bring some freezing rain...guess trip into the city will be uneventful..no 'snow day' lol

LOL growin - Does your Mom have another favourite son - and it's not you? Lovely flower pics. Makes me believe spring really will arrive here some day.

The freezing rain - and possibly more snow - is on it's way. At 6:30 it was half way between Chatham and London. I expect it to hit here at work any time now. Hopefully it will all be finished by this afternoon's commute.

Ginnylynn you be careful..news said that we'll have snow today but possible freezing rain in the am tomorrow..we only work 4 hrs. on Friday so it's 1 1/2 travel to work and same home..total of 3 hrs. so it would be a godsent (to me at least-lol) if we got it between the hours of 6 -8am..I'm not asking formuch am I..

Well, if you get your desire and get the freezing rain tomorrow between 6 and 8 am, then that means we'd probably get it between 4 and 6 am - right before and during when we're on the road. How about if we both wish hard for *NO* more freezing rain :-)

We only had freezing rain for about 15 - 20 minutes this morning starting at about 7:30. Nothing else since then, but boy does it feel cold! The current temperature here in London is -3C but the windchill makes it feel more like -11C.