January in the Garden

No, this is not me doing the laundry - it's too pretty a day for mundane chores and I've come down with cold - so instead I took a walk in the garden for an extra dose of vitamin D.

You can't even see it, but this was the five minute snow flurry one morning last week! I rushed to the front porch, the tiny flakes whirled in the wind and then were gone ~ was it really a dream, a wish.......no, it snowed just long enough to taunt and tease here in the South.

Today bright sunshine and temperatures in the 70's brings back our Carolina Blue sky making a walk through the Winter garden pleasant. This squirrel's nest high in an oak tree hangs on for dear life - they look so flimsy but will soon hold a new generation of those pesky, but cute, little devils who invade the garden year round.

The ice has melted in the fountain which has become a favorite bird bath ~ this female finch enjoyed a drink and a warm rest in the sun.

Color can be rare in the January garden.................unless you have berry bearing shrubs such as hollies and Pyracantha, at their loveliest when the sun shines, and before the hungry birds devour them.

The Jasmine keeps its green leaves and continues to climb slowly in the sunshine on the front porch.