We awoke to a light blanket of snow yesterday morning – our first (just barely) measurable snow of the season. The powdery dusting left my garden bench in the shade garden looking pretty, but not quite so inviting.
Likewise, the arch to the backyard looks cold and forlorn as it awaits the return of Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ and her lovely deep pink flowers. The locust tree stands tall as a backdrop and you can see the seed pods I mentioned last week waiting for the next windy day to knock them out of the tree. Though said seed pods are a messy harbinger of fall, the dappled shade the tree provides in summer makes it worth the extra effort. The tree’s canopy allows just enough sunlight to filter through so that grass can grow and part-sun perennials can thrive.
Momma’s blue pot precariously perched atop a few stacked bricks still needs to be emptied and readied for next spring’s new floral pretties. Marigolds or zinnias? Moss roses perhaps? Wait! Maybe I should plant it up with some of those bulbs I haven’t planted yet!
I never quite get around to trimming off the spent hydrangea blossoms. The pretty snowy caps have me convinced that’s not such a bad thing.
Our bird feeders each received cute little snowy rooftops. It may be gloomy and overcast today, but the feeders have been very busy with diners – especially blue jays, a wood pecker and cardinals – and the pesky squirrels.
I was happy to discover a flowerpot within the shelter of the front porch still shows off a bit of fall’s snapdragon magic.
There are still a few must-do items on my fall cleanup list, but most of what’s left will probably have to wait until spring. Although, our local weather lady tells me I might have a very small window of good weather toward the end of the week. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll get those last few tulip and daffodil bulbs in the ground. Meanwhile, I think I’ll make myself a cup of tea and poke around on our ‘Six on Saturday’ host’s site. It’s always such fun virtually touring a few gardens. Won’t you join me?
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Barefoot Lily Lady 
I’ve been waiting for a glimpse of forms under frost or snow as we don’t get snow to sea level very often where I live. Maybe once every three or four years. I think it has a particular charm and you are right, the garden bench looks spectacular!
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Photos of snow are so gorgeous, as a rule, but living w/it, blech! I used to live a few miles from a ski resort, so you can imagine how I just loved winter. That bench pattern is so pretty, & the arch as well. What’d you decide to plant in your mother’s blue pot? It’s so gorgeous in & of itself. Keep warm!
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Thanks for the observations about the beauty of fresh fallen snow. Today was a bit warmer – all of 41 degrees, so I planted a few tulip and daffodil bulbs. I had to tuck them into beds near the house where the ground had not yet frozen. As much as I love the changes of seasons here in Wisconsin, I do wish that winters were a bit shorter and Spring or Fall a bit longer.
The blue pots have a funny (to me) story. My Mom used to group the three pots on her front porch each year and they always brimmed with beautiful annuals. Then one summer the pots sort of disappeared and Mom didn’t remember ever having blue pots – the beginning of her short-term memory problems. I later found them in her garage when I was packing up her stuff to move her to live closer to me. Mom has Alzheimer’s and now she often tells our guests that she made those pots when she was in kindergarten. They really are a lovely shade of blue. I have decided to plant a few of the tulips in one of those blue pots today. Later in spring I’ll plant them up with some annuals. I was recently reading my great-grandmother’s memories of her childhood. In one of the memories of her mother she shared, “She liked flowers and always had a big old tin dish pan of blooming rose moss out near the old apple tree. ” I’ve scribbled a note to myself in my garden journal to plant portulaca in one of those blue pots next year – to sort of create a new tradition of my own with my mother’s blue pots and honor my great-great grandmother’s love of gardening too.
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Keeping any tradition alive for 5 generations is really something. It’s not often I encounter that in a normal family garden. And in a way, your mother did create those pots, maybe not in kindergarten, but as a regular feature on her porch. So regular, you noticed their absence. These are great family stories & you told them w/such love. I’m so glad you took the time to share them. Made my morning! Good luck w/your bulb planting.
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Well, you made MY morning too. Lora. Thanks for the “follow” on my blog. I look forward to meeting up with you in the comments section from time to time.
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