Violets

Newcomb's Wildflower Guide lists over 30 Viola species occurring in Northeastern and North-central North America.

Lance-leaved Violet

Birdfoot Violet

This was the first day of our monitoring season.  There wasn't much blooming, but for me, the Birdfoot Violet makes any trip worthwhile.  We counted over 300 plants blooming on the sand dunes just off Ostrich Lane.

The Sand cherry had enough buds for us to count it as well.

Gone South

I have been enamored of the South since encountering finely mannered Southerners as schoolmates when in Cincinnati.  

We took a trip to Charleston recently and while there had a chance to visit Middleton Place, a former rice plantation and current national historic landmark.

One of the attractions of the South is the presence of Live Oaks.

The house was destroyed in the Civil War.  This would have been the view from the porch.  Most visitors would have arrived by boat on the Ashley River.

Middleton Place is the site of America's oldest landscaped gardens, laid out in 1741.  Azaleas were added in the early 20th century.

Charleston is perhaps my favorite city.  This is a typical Charleston house.  Behind the door is an open porch facing a small garden. 

Good Grief!

Another visit from winter this morning

Poor little tulips

Hope

Two weeks ago today we had to put Hudson to sleep.  He had developed another episode of pancreatitis that wrecked havoc with his poor little self.  He was 14 1/2 years old. 

It has been a difficult two weeks.

The day after he died, the Snow Iris finally bloomed. 

It is a most welcomed Spring. 

Hungry Possum

Here's a guy you don't normally see out and about in the afternoon.

He was munching on spilled safflower seeds from the feeder yesterday.

A Colorful Diversion

     

Recently we escaped this never ending winter to soak up some sun in Phoenix.  The Phoenix Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places to visit there.  This year there they were hosting a Chihuly exhibit.

Not Funny

I just took these photographs. 

It is snowing an inch an hour and is expected to continue most of the day.

The low temperature tonight is predicted to be 1 degree Fahrenheit. 

This winter is now officially not funny anymore.

My memory of winters growing up in the area were that they were generally colder and snowier than they have been the last 20 years since moving back.

Even so, the crocus by our front porch would bloom without fail by this date - my parent's wedding anniversary.

Even my Snow Iris have refused to show themselves this year.