Snow on the balcony

the type I like to see in February:

snowdrops,

Galanthus nivalis

    & snow crocuses

Crocus chrysanthus

"Little Februaries"

Paperwhites

BY MICHELLE DETORIE

Little Februaries, they

            unbind themselves, pages

sweetening the air.

            Little petals, not fit

for grieving, ornately

            frail. Petals sheer as sheets,

as raw and spare. Stems,

            thin straws of green, needles

drinking the dirt —

            unspooling the white

bulb into blossom. Lips

            parting open their pale

veils. Green veins poured

            into tiny cups of ivory air.

Green straws — green pencils —

             throats through which a shallow

dark is drawn. White notes

             birthed and nursed. A white song

scored — forced out — little breaths

             exhaled. Sweet wreaths for rooms.

Sweet wraiths exhumed. Eyes

             opening the whites

                         at the end of their lines.  

 Source: Blackbird Archive

Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'

Stanley Park. Lost Lagoon. 'Autumnalis Rosea' cherry blossoms.

Triple delight. Part of my Sunday rust removal strategy.

Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea'

bonus in UPPERCASE #12

LETTERPRESSED

TOUCHED & ADORED

& yes, soon to be GROWN & ENJOYED.

Thank you, Janine & Porridge Papers for this marvelous plantable seedpaper.

And now back to our regularly scheduled winter...

I'd suspected the green and pink and mild January was too good to be true.

Camellia japonica in the courtyard garden, January 10th, 2012

Flower buds on a shrub at Stanley Park, January 13th, 2012

It was.

Frozen leaves & blossoms of Camellia japonica, January 18th, 2012