Little Blooms of Hope

   After the snow and icy weather last month, February has come in as if to say "Hey!  I am spring!  All you plants need to perk up and look alive!"  Well, a lot of the plants and trees are like "Really now?  We are hurting and you want us to be perky?"  So...most continue to look dismally harmed.  The citrus trees really took a beating.  There is not much of a way to protect 20 to 30 ft tall trees and, yes, the grapefruit trees are that tall.  The orange trees are around 10 ft tall but were not "coverable" either. The cold was a bit much for all of the trees and the damage is showing in the form of brown and dropped leaves.  It is saddening that such beauty that the snow brought to the Bayou has dealt a blow on what is here year round. 

  As I wandered the hillside surveying the damaged trees, my heart gave a little leap of happiness seeing a tiny cluster of blooms.  Not everything had perished!  No, not citrus blooms (thankfully) but rather the paperwhite narcissus.  These cold hardy plants were not daunted at all by the 14 degree temperatures and have now brought hope back to the gardens.  I know it is beyond most folks thinking that I can find immense joy in the simple bloom of a lily that is a annual occurrence but, to my way of thinking, any bit of beauty means there is hope that things will soon be back to normal.  Paperwhites are said to represent the coming of spring so maybe soon things will not seem so grim.

  The cleanup of damaged gardens is in full swing as is the cleanup of fallen leaves.  The leaves will be ground and returned to the gardens as mulch.  Hopefully, what was seen as damage can help with the regrowth.  Also, hopefully, this bout of springlike weather will not encourage the off-season blooming that often happens after ice storms.  I would have preferred that February had stayed chilly and let things have a dormant stage before pushing them into a premature revival state.  Slow down, plants.  Take your time.  Let the healing be the number one priority.

Happy Roses

   A month ago, we had several hard freezes for this far south.  The temperatures dropped into the teens which seems frigid to us.  We are not accustomed to such weather!  The usual preparations were made for us to "hunker down" against the cold.  An extra stockpile of firewood for the woodstoves, lights in the pumphouse, bushels of citrus fruits picked and plants moved into the greenhouse (even though it was a makeshift shelter).  Normally since these freezes do not last long, I never think about moving rose bushes to warmer areas but I had a dozen or so cuttings in pots that were just starting to do well so, in they went.  I promptly forgot about them as they hid among the hundred or so other plants.  

  Imagine my surprise when I found that those tiny plants were not only thriving but blooming!  Yep!  Several of the small plants were showing their appreciation for the snug shelter by setting lovely blooms!  It was a welcome sight among the normal drear of winter.

  This week, the weather seems like spring so the plants will all return to the proper "summer" spots and I shall hope for the best.  The temporary greenhouse will be deconstructed and stowed just in case it is needed next year.  The plants will be on their own for the next ten months or so.  Hopefully, the overwintering will give these roses that needed boost to flourish.  Also, hopefully, this is not a "false" spring and I will regret my moves.  

"On Track"

  For the past few nights (and days), it has been extremely cold.  At least, it has been cold for this far south.  We are not accustomed to the temperature staying below the freezing mark both night and day.  It has also been quite windy which adds to that chill.  Needless to say, folks down here were bundled up to their ears!  It makes me glad that I worked so hard for the past few weeks gathering the firewood.  With both of the menfolk "out of commission", I had to do chores for all of us.  It was not an easy job for an old lady but I am proud to say "I did it!"

  

  That cold wind also blew the tide far from the shore.  In fact, there was no water anywhere near the pier!  All you could see was mud!  Yep, I headed to the pier despite of the cold...despite of the icy wind...despite of the frozen pier boards.  It was a bit treacherous as I kept slipping and sliding!  Still, I made it and was captivated by the mudflats that were left behind as the water receded.  The water hides a lot of stuff!  Since the last time the tide was this far out, so many logs have floated in and are now mired in the mushy mud.  Those were not the only things interesting, though!  Tracks...so many tracks were to be seen!  It always amazes me how critters can walk on that mud and not become mired themselves.  

 

  A set of tracks that caught my eye was a double row of small ruts.  Occasionally, divots could be seen on either side of the ruts.  Ahh, turtle tracks.  We must have a lot more turtles in the bayou than I realized. Either that or we have a very active turtle!  Tracks were winding everywhere thought the mudflats. 

  I am assuming that these tracks were made by the Cooter Turtles that mostly hide in the marshes or bask on those logs.  The tracks seemed too small for the snapping turtles plus did not have the claw marks which are telltale signs of the snappers. Both types of turtles usually only make their way ashore to lay their eggs then are back down to keep out of sight.  Had I been on the pier a bit earlier, perhaps I would have seen a dozen or so as they slid their way across the mudflats.  I imagine they were confused about the frigid weather and did not burrow down in the mud soon enough to keep warm.  Poor, old southern turtles!  They were caught off-guard just like all of the rest of us!