Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The "Petty Pace' of January


Our days this January have seemed plodding, with little to distinguish one from another.
I can't call to mind a winter month with such consistently sunless dull weather.
Friday morning brought a brief dusting of snow which clung to the roofs for an hour before warming to the drizzle of chilly rain which has become overly familiar.


Several plants of clary sage, snow dusted, have taken root near the side porch steps, offspring of the mother  plant which bloomed for weeks during the summer. 
Clary is considered a biennial, so perhaps I won't have flowers this year. These volunteers will need to be relocated.


A welcome sign that our desultory winter will not last forever!
Wild daffodils are emerging behind the mailbox and under the pasture fence.
Those which can be reached by the goats have been nibbled.


I found on a pantry shelf a ziplock bag holding poppy seeds.  Usually I mark the date, but hadn't done so and no idea if these were recent enough to be viable.
I sprinkled them in the sadly depleted flower border below the workshop.
I am pleased to note that the foxglove which I started from seed two summers ago has created a little colony of plants. This is most likely the perennial dark pink variety called Spanish Foxglove.
I had only one plant of the more rare apricot color which was in the corner that suffered badly from the heavy summer rains.


Indoors the lanky-stemmed amaryllis rewarded my patience with delicately striped and
 dappled blooms.
The red variety which blossomed over the New Year produced nine large flowers, while this 
has only four.


I couldn't capture a nicely detailed photo----peak bloom was during several dark days. I tried using the flash--which produced distorted color.
This at least is true to color.


Paperwhites in a west window of the upstairs hallway, have budded.
Thus far they've not been discovered by Mima-cat who loves to nibble on greenery.


 Some sunshine today--enough to inspire pegging part of the wash on the back porch lines.
I caught this sunset moment as I was bringing in an armload of firewood--dumped the wood unceremoniously on the rack behind the stove and snatched up my camera.
The half light lingered until 5:30. 
We ran errands in Russell Springs and had a late lunch there, so no need to make supper.
Crackers and cheese sufficed for a snack.
I rallied my energies and spent several hours sewing.
Who knew there would be a demand for aprons inspired by my recent photos! 

9 comments:

  1. Glad to see greenery sprouting for this years blooms and harvesting. That amaryllis is a lovely color.

    Happy February and happy apron making ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Rainey; I have so enjoyed the amaryllis--when the earth is brown and winter-weary it is encouraging to have blooms in the house.

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  2. I go around the yard daily looking for signs of spring. I hope for a long spring and a delayed summer.

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    1. Janet; Last summer was nearly unbearable here with hot and humid--I"m not in the usual hurry to 'get there.

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  3. January seemed especially dreary here too. Glad to see it behind us. Can't believe how everything is starting to green up around you. Hope you are having fun making aprons!

    Hugs
    Jane

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    1. Jane; I have the apron making process quite stream-lined! A lot of small plants [weeds!] are mostly evergreen here; Weeds survive, pricey perennials are apt to languish if the weather doesn't suit them.

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  4. So nice to see some signs of spring there! I've always wanted to grow clary sage but have not come across any plants here. I may have to start some from seed and see if they come up. It's so nice to finally have the days last beyond 5 p.m. now. Your Amaryllis is very pretty. Good to keep busy during these dark days - do share when you are finished! Blessings, Karen

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    Replies
    1. Karen; Late in my reply, but your comment was appreciated at the time! The longer evenings are so welcome.

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    2. Karen; Late in my reply, but your comment was appreciated at the time! The longer evenings are so welcome.

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