Blooms! Blooms! Are there any Blooms out there?

What could possibly still be blooming in my gardens? 
It's GBBD and I woke up early to find the answer.

Last week's snow has melted 

but the night-time temps are still below freezing

and the Highland winds have now left our trees bare naked.

 

Could there be any blooms out there?
O-h-h but it's so frosty cold. 
Be brave. 

A rose that's just hanging on...
but still 
oh, so beautiful. 

Close-up of the sugar coated frost-ing 
this morning brings.

"If you can just hold on a little longer dearie...

you might become a plump little 'rose hip' like me."

Hmm... that little rose may have missed her chance. 

It will have to warm up a whole lot for that to happen.

The pom-poms of the Sea Thrift aren't easily swayed by the cold.

They'll be blooming till their buried 
and will be one of the first to bloom again next Spring.

The Quick Fire Hydrangea has long ago lost it's rosy color

but it's golden tones will last well into the Winter.

They are definitely some of the bones of my garden...
I've planted them everywhere!

As are the Limelight Hydrangeas. 

The sun is up now and the frost is melting quick.

Did you catch the sparkling crown on these dainty blooms?

Oh my! What do I spy?

This sweet little violet alive and vibrant 
near the foundation of our home. 

Must have found a little sunbeam that enticed it to bloom.

 

 

Sweet Alyssum is always a stalwart. 
Always the last living bloom in my gardens.

Hearty burgundy mums 

still find enough warmth to keep them alive.

And this Echinacea will live to dance another day.

♥  ♥  ♥

Before the last snowfall I spied a little Scabiosa 
just beginning to bloom. 
With already a dozen or so frosty nights, 

I smiled at this little blooms fortitude.

All the other blooms in his garden were long gone.

I'll take his pic tomorrow, I thought.

Then tomorrow it snowed and snowed and snowed

and I never took his picture.

But since our snow melted....

Look who I found!

Don't let the color fool you. 
He is literally frozen stiff.

What a brave little bloom he is.

So happy to join Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Head on over to see Carol 
and all the others who honor this day.

It was Bound to Happen Sooner or Later...

but I'm never quite ready

when it does.

Morning SNOW in our gardens.

Ready or not... 

Winter will soon be coming.

 And today we get a glimpse...

but just a teaser...

it will all be melted by mid-afternoon. 

  Early Fall snow 

is magical. 

Bright colored blossoms and berries 

peak out from glistening snow.

A perfect blend 

of two seasons colliding.

If the temps are cold enough...

the blooms will freeze.

But sometimes the snow 

becomes a warm blanket...

protecting the tender petals 

from the freezing temps 

and harsh winds.

 Regardless, this is a time of change 

in my gardens.

 And here, 

we embrace change.

 Change brings new adventures

and new discoveries.

 An opportunity to view things

differently.

Or perhaps gain a new perspective...

on life!

When was the last time you saw 

tender little begonias 

capped in snow?

 Or Riviera Blue Lobelia

dressed in white?

Or brightly colored pom poms of Sea Thrift

snuggling together with coats on?

I wonder... 

will this Black and Blue Salvia 

that I've come to adore

live to see another day?

I do think this is the end 

of our raspberry harvest.

But that's just fine.

Change is sooo good.

When Does Autumn Turn to Winter?

Out of the bosom of the air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent, and soft, and slow 

Descends the snow.

                                            ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Early Morning Walk in My Gardens... So Not Ready For Snow!

Morning Sun Peaking Through the Clouds

My Thinking Spot

There's SNOW in my gardens this morning...
Every flower, bush and tree is covered with a blanket
Of cold, white, sparkling snow.
Soft and still is the air,
And a silent peace prevails.

Evergreens

Snow on the Gate

Today is October 27, 2010 
and it seems as though Winter is here.

Yesterday I marveled at the golds and bronze and reds of the falling leaves.
The bright pinks and orange of the dahlias and zinnias still danced in our Autumn air.

 But today every leaf and branch holds a cluster of white snowflakes,
one by one accumulated throughout the silent night.

Flame Maple with Snowcap

Blushing in the Snow

Japanese Maple 

Frosted with Snow

Austrian Pine Bough

Where are my flowers?
Are they forever hidden under this blanket of snow?
Is Winter really here to stay?

Pink Geranium in Snow Cave

Rosa Carumba!

Pink Coral Bells...Jingle, Jingle!

 Chrysanthemums Crowned with Snowflakes

The weatherman tells me no.
The Autumn Dance is not yet over.

By late afternoon the eight inches of snow will have melted away,
and the flowers that survived the frost of Monday night
will once again bloom in splendor.

So when does Autumn turn to Winter?

All I can say is...

Not today.