Signs of Spring

It has been a cold, dreary beginning of April, and the weather report suggests that there is no relief in sight.  But cold or not, snow or not, nature is giving tiny glimpses of what is to come.

Iris reticulata cultivar

Another Iris reticulata

Crocuses

Of course, my houseplants can usually be counted on to help chase away the "where the heck is spring already?" blues. Below are a few plants in bloom that make a cheery contrast with the grayness outdoors.

Phalaenopsis Bella TN324 (That's what the tag says)

Columnea variety

Ludisia discolor in bloom, along with the Phalaenopsis from the photo above

Hoya carnosa inflorescence

Hippeastrum 'Red Lion' with a NoId Hippeastrum on the left

Anthurium NoId

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

So where the heck is spring already?

Why I Hate the Month of March: A Photo Essay

Yesterday:

Today:

And of course, there is Peppermint.

Yesterday:

Today:

He seems unperturbed.

Life in the Trees

I had considered a photo montage of some of my plants with heart-shaped leaves as a Valentine's Day post, but since the topic was covered so well yesterday by Mr.Subjunctive at PATSP, doing so seemed a trifle redundant.

So, because I haven't done a pet post for a while, and I'm also jonesing for spring in the worst way, I thought I'd share some pictures of my cats playing in the trees during the warmer months. Keeping things on topic, there are some houseplants in two of the pictures.

The fearless and intrepid Peppermint in the Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) in our front yard.

The considerably more cautious Luke in the same tree. I had hung an Asparagus sprengeri and Chlorophytum on the branches so they could summer in the partial shade.

Your considerably less intrepid, but equally fun-loving blogger, behind the same tree. This one looks better in its larger version, when clicked. In addition to the plants in the trees, my Strelitzia reginae and Tradescantia pallida were enjoying their summer outdoors on the ground.

Spring cannot get here soon enough for me, and several of my plants as well.

Outside my Windows today

Winter is doing its damnedest to seduce me with its austere beauty. It hasn't snowed in a few days, but a recent freezing fog has left a lovely, frosty coating on the trees.

Frost on the needles of a small pine tree in my garden.

Evergreens in a neighboor's yard

It won't work, I tell you. Winter is still a cruel, cruel season.

Indoors, Chia Kitty continues her transformation:

She looks nice from the front...

...but from the rear, it is clear that she is suffering from planting pattern baldness.

It's a Season of Contrasts

I'm on record as saying that I hate winter. And I do. But I cannot deny its beauty. Here is what is going on outside:

My front yard, taken a few days ago during a snow shower

And here is what is going on indoors:

New Monstera deliciosa leaf unfurling

Paphiopedilum flower about to open

Brand new Sansevieria trifasciata leaf, among its older, darker brethren

New Zamioculcas zamiifolia leaf, just beginning to loosen

How's that for ringing in the new, a couple of days early?

I Need a Little Summer--Right This Very Minute

I am not a winter kind of gal. In fact, I hate the season with a passion. I hate the cold, I hate the dark, I hate the ice, I hate the snow. And it did snow here today, just a little. So, in the fine spirit of seasonal denial, I'm going to share some more pictures from the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and pretend that it is July, or August, when these pictures were taken.

From the Sensory Garden: Sedums and Kalanchoes in the foreground, Celosia, Tagetes (Marigolds), and Tibouchina in the background.

Close-up of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora from the plantings pictured above

From the Bulb Garden: Dahlia cv.

Nymphaea from I'm not sure where. (There are waterlilies in different places in the gardens, and I forgot where I took this particular shot.)

From the Tropical Greenhouse: Orchids and other Epiphytes

A pergola near the Enabling Garden

And as I've written previously, I always stop by and say hello to the ducks. Apparently, being well-groomed is quite important to them.

As always, click the pictures to see larger versions.