Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, and we're expecting that old standby, "Wintry Mix". Here are some nicer images from around the farm, shot during this gorgeous weekend, to help us get through it. March is always the longest month of the year for me, and it's hard to remember that there is a light at the end of the cold, wintry tunnel, even if you have to slog through 3 feet of mud to get there.
Mud. The ugly side of Spring in the Hilltowns, and yet I find brown to be such a nice color after all the white and gray. I can say this NOW, because our road was paved a few years ago. When we first moved here, it was a dirt road, or in March, a dirt soup road.
Hamammelis x. intermedia 'Arnold Promise'. One of the first things in the yard to wake up after a long winter. The flowers unfurl on warm days and curl up tightly on cold ones. Only about 4' tall now, but will eventually get to be about 15' high. Pretty foliage in the fall,too.
Crocus over the septic tank in the back yard is always a reliable early bloomer. Did you know that saffron comes from the stigma of a crocus sativa? I don't think this is a saffron crocus, however.
Salix integra "Hakuru Nishiki", or variegated willow. This thing is huge - if you plant one, leave plenty of room for it, or be prepared to prune it hard every year to keep it under control. I love it in early spring, even though it isn't showing the variegated pink and green foliage for which it is known. It's not a pussy willow, but the branches turn a lovely pinky gold color just when the buds are forming.
RSS Feed