Reprise - A Winter Garden

First posted on December 29, 2009, it reminds me that it can be winter.    But alas, this winter on the prairie has not seen any snow.    A few flakes but no accumulation and even though we've had some cold temperatures it's not been below the 20's and we've had many days in the 50's and 60's -- this winter of 2011/2012.


I do miss the snow -- for although it seems more like winter when there is snow -- that moisture is imperative for the garden.


There are still 57 days until spring and we've been known to have snow in March -- so we may have some "winter" yet!


I'm joining Chari at Happy to Design for Sunday Favorites and The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays. (for there isn't anything more seasonal than snow!)

The pond in summer - with the cat fountain sprewing water and goldfish swimming below the surface . . .


Transforms into frozen snow covered tundra. The goldfish are somewhere in the depths of the fountain. And the cat has been put out for the winter!

Quite a transformation from summer scene to winter scene!

And with the ice and snow covered ground, the birds have been flocking to the garden. Cardinals, juncos, chickadees, an occasional goldfinch and tufted titmouse. Herr Squirrel, too, has managed to get a meal or two.

But a favorite of ours is the bluejay. This fellow is working hard for his sunflower morsel.


While at the feeder, a fat (and sassy) Jay is eating his fill. Although Jays can be raucous birds, they have a soft spot in my heart. My high school mascot was the Jay and so I've always held them dear.

And what can be better than one Jay -- two Jays!

Summer or winter, I love to see the blues of the jays flit from tree to feeder and back again. Blue is always a favorite color in the garden -- whether it's feathers or petals!