If only for a Garden Party!

  Right at the moment, I am thinking (like most folks) that Old Man Winter has a tight grip on the nation and is refusing to let go.  This bit of winter storm after winter storm is putting the nation in a deep freeze or at least a definite icy chill.  Even the South is getting its share of wintry mix of snow and sleet.  Well, most of the South is seeing some such precipitation..on the Bayou, it is rain.  Cold rain but rain nonetheless.  This bit of weather is in stark contrast to just a few days ago when I was out taking pictures of a few flowers that dared to bloom. It was in the mid-eighties and quite sunny.  Now, I am afraid that my blooms might have met their demise in the coldest way possible.

  One of the early blooms is that of the Periwinkle or Vinca. My Periwinkle is a tiny sprig of a plant that insists on surviving even through the harshest of times.  It is one that I actually pulled up from my great-aunt's garden.  This had originally been my great-grandmother's place but later became Great-aunt Ruth's.  My great-grandmother had a nice size concrete koi pond in the back yard.  There the fish entertained and impressed the many who came to garden parties of the day. Guests would come dressed in their finest and munch dainty sandwiches, drink tea and watch the fish. Once the fad of such parties ended,the koi strangely disappeared, the pond was filled with dirt and planted with flowers...Periwinkles being one of many. These fine plants grew well and spilled over into the yard.  They were literally taking over the place. 

  My plant, however, remains puny compared to hers.  Perhaps I am doing something wrong or, depending on how you view it, perhaps I am doing something right.  At least my Periwinkle is not an invasive plant planning on taking over the yard. I cannot imagine that my single plant would do much to decorate the yard for a garden party but I do hope Old Man Winter will allow this one to continue growing!