Patience pays off -

 

 This is one of the old amaryllis bulbs I planted in the garden last Spring

 after the first indoor bloom. It bloomed again in the garden in May, and

kept tall leaves all Summer. I dug up the bulb in September and kept

 it in the potting shed until repotting again in November. 

It has now grown a 24" stem, no new leaves though ~ but

 I see some starting at the base ~ and today there are four 

beautiful buds filling out and getting ready to bloom!

I'm so excited and grateful. Sometimes I lack patience, waiting about 

bothers me and I just want to get on with things. Perhaps these pandemic

days have changed much of that. Now I have plenty of time and am more

attune to waiting for things to happen. 

Or I'm getting old and slowing down ~ have to be honest here.

I also thank my wonderful friend Gina at Art & Alfalfa for advising me

 on how to encourage amaryllis bulbs to re-bloom year after year, not

 toss them after the first bloom.

Gina gives advice on so many things that bring immense joy to my life. 

When visiting with her on her amazingly beautiful Utah farm a couple

of years ago I made a true forever friend.  Bob and I love you Gina.

 

Suppose...................

.................Spring didn't come!

Photos from frosty mornings.

Tonight and tomorrow night we'll be bombarded again with a deep freeze.
Temperatures will plummet, remaining far below freezing for night and early
 morning hours. I'm thinking of ways to save some of the budding 
shrubs, particularly the hydrangeas now showing bright green shoots. 
Last year this occurred and the usual wonderful display of blue
  mophead blooms in summer never happened. I really missed them.
Old sheets will be pulled out of the linen closet this evening and tossed
in a ghostly fashion over the shrubs. . . . . fingers crossed that will help.
Azaleas will have to fend for themselves I'm afraid, we have so many
 and the bushes are huge. 

 However, they are on their way . . . . . . those lovely days of sun, 

blue skies, green leaves, warmth. 

We'll throw off the heavy jackets, put the boots in storage, clean the car, 
service the mower, cut the new grass . . . . . . . and be extremely thankful.