Exactly a week after I hauled all the plumerias and the other cold sensitive plants out of the garage and house, I hauled them all back in. The last freeze was supposed to be the last one until it wasn't, just as everything finally started to bud out. Tonight and tomorrow night it's supposed to get below freezing, varying predictions have ranged from 27˚ to 31˚ so I've also covered the porterweed and the yellow angel trumpet, both of which have new growth sprouting.
But during those few warm days the woodland violets just exploded and this is just one small part of the yard! Can you see all those little dots of lavender?
Here's a close up.
My daffodils finally started blooming and I picked some of the pansies and brought them inside.
It's been a busy week. Mostly ferrying Robin to work every morning as well as my usual activity...grocery shopping, cooking dinner on my appointed nights, my volunteer day, etc. I'd have added the watercolor class but we didn't have it this week as Gay canceled but we're on for next week. Speaking of, she asked me if I wanted some homework last week and showed me two pictures to choose from to try and paint. I selected one with two birds and branches and flowers.
It's very loose in its rendering but has enough drawing to suit me. I finally sketched it out last Sunday and started on the painting this week. This is my first attempt at a painting on my own. My progress so far:
The only other thing worth noting is I led the yoga class again on Monday and I'm still chasing the squirrels off the bird feeder. There's one little female which I'm sure she's already pregnant so I generally just let her eat.
Last night's sky.
Yes. Damn. I am procrastinating as we speak about moving and covering plants. This old Florida girl should have known better. They're saying we may get down to 26 tonight. WTF?
ReplyDeleteThat painting is going to be so lovely. Those little birds are happy.
They were saying 27˚ here and it didn't get that cold so it probably won't where you are either.
DeleteThe painting is coming along but I'm still very tentative.
Your flowers are so beautiful. I hope all the ones outside make it through the next cold spell.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to your painting. It's such a sweet image.
Lovely sunset sky.
They should be fine as it didn't get as cold as the coldest prediction, still only 30˚ when I got up. I haven't even been outside yet today.
DeleteYou are well advanced with your watercolors.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go that far.
DeleteI love to see your flowers. We're so far from even daffodils.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to set up some pansies to paint, since you're branching out this week? Great subject.
I hadn't thought about it but maybe so.
DeleteI like the little bit of homework you were given. Looking forward to the end result.
ReplyDeleteIt's just loose enough that something that didn't go as planned still looks like it did. So far.
DeleteI'm impressed beyond words with your watercolor skills. That's a pretty combination of flowers and birds; it will be interesting to see how you interpret it. I'm not at all impressed with our weather. The wind finally came up about 3 this afternoon, and now I can feel the temperature in the house dropping. I suppose I'll have to let the heat come on, since I don't really enjoy anything below 68F. The pansies look like summer, even though they're a winter flower here.
ReplyDeleteWe got the wind and the cold but no rain even though that was the forecast. I'm sure my neighbor Rocky was happy about no rain as he had a little roofing job Friday morning. It got so cold in the house yesterday that I bumped the heat up one degree to 69˚. It's amazing how much difference one degree makes. And then I made stew for dinner.
DeleteYou may as well live on an entirely different planet than the one i live on- funny how a few thousand miles can make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteI am loving your painting skills!!
I wouldn't call my effort 'skills' but I'm sort of getting there.
DeleteOur plumerias are ready to go, full of fresh leaves and stuff but no, I'll wait for another week. The potatoes go in first.
ReplyDeleteI like the homework so far.
I keep my plumerias in the unheated garage next to an interior wall and pull a big tarp across when it really gets cold so they go completely dormant. No leaves or anything. Doesn't take long though when I bring them out and give them a good watering. The painting is coming along.
DeleteI learn the names of familiar flowers from you and Mary Moon. Lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how the birds come out. I may do pansies next as Boud suggested.
DeleteI hope your freeze turns out to be not too severe. It seems so weird, this late blast of winter weather. Good luck with the birds!
ReplyDeleteSome weed invasive is blooming with lovely blue flowers as it does every spring. Last night was a hard freeze, but I think it will be our last. Daffodils are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love pansies - those just brighten up the room. You know, I don't know if we have those violets in our yard here in NC. I know we did in Ohio, but all I remember here is henbit. Of course, I don't really remember what I ate yesterday so take all that with a grain of salt :)
ReplyDelete