It has been a while since I posted a garden update that was more than just a few pictures.

Today I decided to focus on the buds that are beginning already to swell on the trees, here at the shortest day of the year. Solstice occurs for us in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow — I took the pictures today since it wasn’t raining.

To me, there is truly magic in the world. Here, at the cusp of change, just before the harshest conditions of the year, the plants already anticipate warmer, brighter times. This time of year, in the late afternoon light, the swelling buds and emergent blossoms of the winter-blooming flowers almost glow with life.

These pics were taken with my ipad around 3 pm today.

Apple
Apple spur with buds at the ends

Pear
Pear spurs with large buds at ends

Plum
Plum spur, with ridged swelling

Willow
bright yellow-green buds on light green whip ends of salix

Red-flowering Currant
green leaf-tips at ends of red twigs of currant, in front of silver ladder

Witch Hazel
almost silvery witch hazel buds ready to bloom yellow and maroon

Filbert (Hazelnut)
filbert catkins dangling in front of the chestnut trunk

Heather
purple heather with a few chestnut leaves sprinkled in

And then, a surprise in the garden. Artichoke are occasionally perennial around here. This is one plant I put in this summer that wasn’t supposed to bear until next year. I didn’t notice any buds or blooms earlier, but there they were today. One fully mature, and two beginning. I picked them all, just because it is getting cold and I would rather the plant put its energy toward surviving the winter.

two of the three artichokes on the stalk, the largest about 4 inches in diameter

Nature. She knows how to set the world up for success.


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