I was stuck inside most of the day, but noticed there was significant frost on the grass when I ventured out to get the paper this morning.

Sunny weather is a mixed blessing, as it seems ripe for garden photography, but the truth is that better pictures are typically had on overcast days.  Still, living in Seattle, I think sunshine means more to me–it definitely alters all moods for the better!

Here is a Hellebore given to us by friends Bonnie and Pam probably 15 years ago.  The plant is a bit less vigorous this year, with fewer flowers, but it has a grace and beauty that some of the more floriferous Lenten roses lack.

One of Leon’s early stone sculptures.  This one is called Aquarius and it sits near the pond in the fenced pond garden.  The above Hellebore lives there, too.

Below are some bonsai starts–seedling that I started years ago.  The center plant is a Japanese larch that is leafing out–such a cheerful, graceful tree.

The larch buds just bursting with life:

I love the light through the garlic chives.  I grew these from seeds, as well.  It has taken a few years for them to get enough size on them so I feel okay harvesting them!

Standard chives are below–popping up like crazy.  I will take some off the edges and pot them up for brother Tim’s plant sale in the spring.

I’m not really sure why hyacinths are my favorite spring bulb–it must be the fragrance.  These white beauties from the cold frame are more graceful than most of the giant hybrids…and the scent doesn’t disappoint.

Our cheerful bulb/primrose display.  The pot needs to be washed, as rain has washed mud all the way up the sides!  Such a Seattle problem.

Corylopsis is blooming.  I struggle to get flowers of this shrub that do justice to its graceful, bright flowers.

Crocus, on the other hand, are almost impossible NOT to photograph well.  The photography rule of avoiding sunny days doesn’t always apply.  For example, crocus just don’t ever look this happy on a cloudy day.

I went a little crazy with the crocus pics, but can you blame me?  They are infinitely graceful.

I love the deep golden hearts to the white crocus below.

And here again.

These are new for me and I’m really pleased with them–I’ll get more to plant in the Doug fir bed and around this fall.  Another advantage to crocus is the price–so I can afford to be generous with them.

And last…

I’ve already photographed this iris reticulate hybrid, but can’t resist a few more pictures in the sun.

I’ve not had luck with these in the garden, so forcing them in pots has been my only way to enjoy success with them.  I splurged last year and got some nice hybrids rather than the usual mix.  The mixes often don’t have the better cultivars–I think they are tough to propagate and they command a high price.

More leftover forced hyacinths from last year.

In the greenhouse, Mom’s cymbidium is still blooming beautifully.  The flowers lose some of their green and turn a buff-beige that is stunning.

Here is an inherited cymbidium blooming for the first time.  I am not opposed to the cup shaped flowers, and the color and size are nice.  Unfortunately, the flowers are spotted on the outside and that ruins the picture when the flowers don’t open all the way!

The Masdevallias continue to shine, as well, so I took a few pictures in the bright light.

Superb form and garish color.

You can really see the intricate interior in this picture.