As predicted the weather turned cold again with low temperatures near freezing for the past several days; but, it has not slowed down spring's arrival at all. Every day, more and more daffodils are popping up all over our property. Yesterday, the first crocus bloomed.
We planted two weeping willows on the lower end of the meadow which have really grown over the past 12 years. They are the first trees to leaf in the spring. Several years after we planted the weeping willows, I asked Bob to plant some corkscrew or curly willows. There are several now on the far side of the creek and one on the house side and they are started to leaf this week.
In the middle of the meadow on the house side of the creek is a very very old plum tree. It has lost so many limbs on one side that it's weight was pulling it down to the ground on the other and we had to prop it up. Several years ago we planted a young plum tree nearby because we were not sure how much longer the old one would live. In the years when the plum blossoms escape a spring freeze, we have the most wonderful plum jam. It's plums are tiny and not much good for eating until we turn them into preserves if we can get to them before the crows. Plums are not my favorite fruit, but the plum jam is better than anything I've made from my favorite fruits, peaches and raspberries. Below is a picture of the new plum tree which has not born fruit yet, but maybe this year.
Bob didn't take a picture of the old plum,but I am delighted that it has blossoms for at least one more year and I'll keep my fingers crossed that we won't have a hard freeze.
The highs and the lows for tomorrow are both expected to be int he 40's. The temperatures are supposed to gradually start warming up in the next several days and the highs to be up in the 60's by the end of next week. Today's set-in rain is much needed and supposed to continue until at least Monday morning.
When the sun returns it will be time to clean out the front cottage garden.
Nice to see the beginnings of spring at your place.
Darla
Posted by: Darla | March 20, 2009 at 08:20 AM