It's supposed to look like this

 But it doesn't.

They are still sleeping

No flowers for the house. 

Even too cold for pansies.

Not even a Hellebore in sight.

When are they going to show their faces?

There is only this and 

it is very cold. 

Enjoy your flowers, 

mine will come soon.

Gina 

Inundated with new snow

But the sun is shining brightly

I'm glad that the Daffodils waited to open. 

It snowed for most of the night. 

Hellebore don't mind the snow and ice. 

By midday they have perked up. 

I can handle being isolated. 

Because I have a young dog who is smarter than me.  

 Hope you are doing well. 

Over the many years, I have written a blog,  I have met so many wonderful Bloggers. Many have become good friends.  
But many have stopped writing and I miss you. 

Won't you come back now that you might have a little extra time.  

Gina 

Sky shots

Aiming without looking. 

The're called "Sky Shots".

I'm surprised how many photos actually turned out. 

You have to crawl under these Hellebore to see their faces. 

I can't crawl under them to take a photo. 

My ducks and geese have already been there.  

Amazing how my Hellebore have evolved. 

From one original color to many, many colors.

Hellebore are a most rewarding flower.
 They bloom early, through ice and snow. 

Wishing you a great week ahead, 

Gina  

I was feeling sorry for myself.

I've been complaining that nothing is growing in my garden.

All I had to do is look under the snow. 

And there they were!

Snowdrops and Hellebore.

The sun is shining today, 

Gina 

Mein Sonntag Strauss

My first Daffodils

and many Hellebore in my garden.

By the time I get back from Italy my field of Daffodils may not be blooming anymore.

I will have missed the entire show.

I don't know if that is an acceptable trade-off.

Have a great week dear Friends.

Gina

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Just another morning

at my house.

Now that the ice has left we can let the spring fill our pond again.

Snow on Saturday covered the only flowers I have blooming in my garden.  

They have frozen before, yet Hellebore always come out looking great.  

This time of year my flowers have to come from the store. 

You can just see the table to the left.  That is where I sit and paint. 

Montgolfiere tiles for a new side table...just out of the kiln. 

A couple of weeks ago my old orchids were throwing new spikes.  

They have now opened fully and even surprised me with a new color. 

All reservations have been made. 

 Soon I will spend the day with Maestro Mario of Montelupo, Italy.  

We will paint. 

When not painting or sight seeing I will learn how to make proper home made pasta at the 
Relais Sant'Elena, Bibbona, Tuscany, Italy.  

Wishing you a great week ahead.  

Gina

Spring, as usual

will be a little late around here.

There are Hellebore blooming in my garden. 

But that is all.  

But there are Cacti blooming in my greenhouse.

I didn't used to like them

I wonder if this big fellow will ever bloom and if so, what will it look like.  

If you take them out of a small pot and move them into a large container, they become giants.  

Like this one.  

It looks like every cabbage seed has germinated. 

The other side of the greenhouse holds my 20 year old geraniums.

Soon my Daffodils will bloom again.  

Then, I will celebrate Spring.  

Have a great week dear friends. 

Gina 

Well, I'll be !

Note to myself; 

Experiment.

When cut and placed in water Hellebore flowers will wilt in only a few hours. UNLESS.

you first dip their stems into  Alum powder.

These Helleborus  flowers have already gone to seed.  

They don't need special treatment. 

Helleborus orientalis, commonly called Lenten Rose,  belong to the Ranunculaceae family. 

It only takes one Hellebore blossom and a few galax leaves to make a fine boutonniere. 

Sweet little snowdrops show off Hellebore to advantage. 

Hellebore keep their green leaves throughout our cold winter months.  

The air dried blossoms make an interesting bouquet and will last for months. 

If you live in this harsh climate,  a flower growing through the snow and in February, deserves a space in every garden.  

They add mystery to every Spring flower bouquet. 

And the best news of all.

I have thousands of little Helleborus orientalis seedlings growing in my garden. 

I will share.  

Have a most wonderful week dear friends.   

Spring is just around the corner

Gina 

Note: All flowers from my 2015 garden