My mother was a farm wife and a prodigious canner. She canned fruit and vegetables from the garden, even occasionally meat. But the best thing that she canned, in my opinion, was blackberry jam. Even as I type those words my mouth waters! Of course, before she could make that jam, somebody had to pick the blackberries. And that somebody was quite often named Dorothy. I think Seamus Heaney might have spent some time among the briars plucking those delicious black fruits as well, so he would have known that "Once off the bush the fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour." They don't keep; you have to get that jam made in a hurry! Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney Late August, given heavy rain and sun For a full week, the blackberries would ripen. At first, just one, a glossy purple clot Among others, red, green, hard as a knot. You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet Like thickened wine: summer's blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust ...
Only one night below freezing? Yes, that's hard for us in the Midwest to swallow, especially as we're in the grips of a deep freeze once again. Still, it's so nice to see all your lovely blooms. I wish pansies would last through the winter here, sigh.
ReplyDeleteOn January 7, it got down to 30 degrees at night. So far, we haven't even made it into the 20s this winter. Still there are a few more weeks to go.
DeleteIt is nice seeing all your blooms at this time of year as we are buried under snow and spring is still far away. I especially enjoyed the vibrant purple of your primrose...so pretty! Happy Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteAnd I enjoy seeing pictures of your snow-covered plants, which have a beauty all their own. Still, I am glad I don't have to deal with a couple of feet of that white stuff!
DeleteHolding on for spring, and grateful daily that I don't live in Boston. Your blooms were so welcome on my computer. Happy GBBD.
ReplyDeletePoor Boston! They really have had an unusually rough time of it this winter. But even for them, spring IS coming!
DeleteYour spring (not to mention the lovely lantana blooming in winter) is way ahead of ours, it's great to see some flowers now in anticipation. Your Oxalis has such bright purple leaves, my similar houseplant they are more black and burgundy,
ReplyDeleteI believe there are some different varieties of the purple oxalis which have different shades of leaves. Mine really are quite a brilliant purple, but I've had the plants for so long - and I was gifted with a start of them - that I don't remember their variety name.
DeleteMy white yarrow is blooming too, and has been for a while. It's pretty. I'll take it! Your oxalis are attractive too. There are a couple of horrible weedy yellow versions in my garden, but I let the rest spread in my garden too. Enjoy your blooms. You've got lots of color around you!
ReplyDeleteIt's a little weird about that white yarrow. I never remember it blooming this early before, but then it has been a weird winter.
DeleteWhat a beautiful orchid. Elegant, subtle, perfect.
ReplyDeleteJust like the one who gave it to me!
DeleteYour leucojums are so pretty, I keep telling myself I really should get some but they are rather expensive over here compared to many other bulbs and every time I make an order for plants or bulbs I end up buying something else I get more of for less money. I enjoyed your photo though :-)
ReplyDeleteNice to see all your February flowers, lots of colour!
There are not too many bulbs that I have any luck with in my garden. Leucojum is one of them, so, obviously, it is one of my favorites!
DeleteHi Dorothy, I love white yarrow. I just purchased a few small plants from Horizon Herbs online. For some reason I can't find the white at the garden center here. They have all the other colors, but not white. Also, the leucojum is so pretty. I love little white bell flowers. I planted some Lily of the Valley pips but have not seen them flower yet. I need to find a pretty white bell flower that's dainty like leucojum that will grow here in my crazy Southern California climate... It was 86 last week... so wrong for this time of year!
ReplyDeleteIt has truly been a strange "winter." I guess we had best get used to it, as it seems this is what our future will be.
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