Flowers and Hoochy Bug Swap

Spring has definitely arrived on the west coast.  It has been wet wild and windy here and the bulbs are coming out in full force to show their finery.

 I don't know the name of these lovely little blue flowers in Rita's garden.

 This hellebore looks like layers of a lady's petticoat.

 Crocuses in the dappled sunshine.

 I like these purple and white striped ones with the bright orange stamens.

 All purple, a bit wind blown.

 Another delicate mauve/white star bulb.

 These crocuses almost look translucent and made of chiffon.

 How did they find their way under the rhododendrons?

 Bright orange bells on these daffodils.

 The first tulip in full bloom.

 Lion daffodils.

 Pink flowering winter forsythia in full bloom, love the blue sky behind.

 Hoochy mama dragonflies for my Mary Lou Weidman Bug Swap.

What a lovely time of the year.

Canadian Ground hogs predict an early Spring!

February 2nd was Ground hog day and our Canadian Ground hogs, Wiarton Willie in Ontario and Nova Scotia's Scubenacadie Sam predict an early Spring.  As you can see here in New Westminster along the Fraser River Spring is showing it's colourful designs.

 The yellow Witch Hazel is looking bright and cheery.

 The orange Witch Hazel always looks like orange Spider Crabs to me.

 A few Snowdrops are out in full bloom

 Winter Cabbage is looking very full alongside some Kale.

 Rhododendrons are starting to bloom and it is only February 5th!

 These blossoms are on the sunny side of the plant, but get a lot of wind from along the river.

 The pink Winter Flowering Forsythia is putting forth a lot of lovely blossoms.

 I like the background of this shot.

 The blossoms are so tiny and delicate and come out well before any leaves.

 They look like little trumpets waiting to be blown by the fairies.

 You can see the buds forming for the leaves on the far branch.

 Yesterday I went up to West 10th to the Cloth Shop for my Saturday Sisters Block of the month.  This garden shop has such a whimsical sign.

 The Black Goat shop sells cashmere, I love their logo.

May Spring come to your corner of the world soon, in the meantime I hope you enjoy mine!

Snowy Surprise.

Yesterday morning I woke up to grey skies and a skiff of snow in the courtyard.

 Almost 24 hours later and there is a winter wonderland outside my condo.  This arrived overnight and was a delightful surprise.

 Looking at the waterfall pool in our courtyard.

 Snow on the palm trees.

 What a lovely lacy effect on the trees.

 Looking over the gate into the courtyard.

 Walking east along the Fraser River.

 More lacy trees.

 The yellow witch hazel covered in snow.

 The orange witch hazel buried in snow.

 This looks like a spider emerging from the snow.

 The curly willow making some interesting designs...maybe inspiration for some stippling designs.

 Beauty berry covered in snow.

 Melting snow on the berries.

 Snow melting in the sunshine.

 Pincushion daisies showing their sunny side.

 Cyclamen weathering the snow.

 Witch hazel emerging from the melting snow.

 Walking west along the boardwalk.  They say we'll get some more snow tonight or tomorrow.

Winter flowering forsythia.

 Love the contrast against the sky.

 Bravely trying to bloom.

Slowly melting in the sunny skies.

 Roses still putting forth blooms.

 Winter white!