Friday’s Winter Thought

Edna O'Brien best sums up the pure beauty of winter with an accompanying snow shot from yesterday. "In a way Winter is the real Spring - the time when the inner things happen, the resurgence of nature.” And as Gunilla Norris points out  “when winter storms prune what is ready to let go.”

We are getting closer to March 20^th so enjoy the last moments of dormancy before bud break. P.S. Hitting the pause blog button for a few days but stay in touch as I’m always one click away.

Image by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, remember to post your comments, questions, even your garden photos. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie

Winding Down

Despite the recently snow-covered trees and shrubs this morning, winter is winding down. My suggestion: take these final March days to gather all your winter garden thoughts – the plans, the seed orders, possibly the garden journal or collage you pulled together and review it one more time. Then find your favorite cold weather recipe. Hopefully it includes some garden treasure you stored or canned for a winter day. I’ll share some tips again. http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2009/11/spearmint-secret-ingredient.html  It’s a tried and true; meatballs and sauce with a twist of spearmint and canned tomatoes from the garden. What’s your favorite winter recipe that makes snowy days less blue?



This complex weather system may hang with us a bit so best to accept that it is still winter in New England. Enjoy making snow angels or a cozy winter recipe if you can. As Rabindranath Tagore pointed out, “We believe that mere movement is life, and that the more velocity it has, the more it expresses vitality.” Translation - take these final March days to rest before the mere movement and velocity of spring keep us garden-occupied come April and May.  

All images by Ann Bilowz

 

If you like this blog, remember to post your comments, questions, even your garden photos. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie

Shall Winter Reappear?

Finally - that extra day in February that leaps upon us every fourth year. Plus, if you pay attention to the Google Doodles, it’s also the 220^th birthday celebration of the Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini. Therefore, a simple quote from the musical guru seems most appropriate to keep our creative garden wheels in motion.  “Give me a laundry-list and I'll set it to music.”

So what are you waiting for? Use this extra day to tackle those last-minute winter garden chores. Pruning is one so sharpen those shears and by golly, place your seed order or there won't be any veggie garden this year. To set the scene, it’s the musical backdrop for your listening pleasure: The Barber of Seville - Overture YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OloXRhesab0 to soothe the ears while chipping away at the final, ‘end of the winter’ laundry list. Are you wondering if spring is really in the air?  

P.S. Didn't have a chance to put into motion my earlier suggestion for this extra day in February? Revisit the post. http://blog.bilowzassociates.com/2012/02/creative-leap.html It’s not too late to take advantage of the Leap Year. Let the music play and be creative while winter reappears.

 

Image of Ben and Cokie taken in January 2012 by Ann Bilowz

If you like this blog, remember to post your comments, questions, even your garden photos. You can like our fan page at http://www.facebook.com/abilowz or follow on twitter http://twitter.com/annbilowz (where there are even more shared tidbits) or subscribe on the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. Either way, we hope you follow the postings somewhere in cyberspace and share it with your gardening friends. Contact me direct at annbilowz@gmail.com Happy Gardening. Annie