Today's Flowers: It's not easy being a spring flower

Wednesday afternoon much of Monday nights snow had melted and I was shocked to see the narcissus which had been buried under the snow for two days. I never would have guessed any blooms had been nestled under the snow. I took a shot because I knew if we got the forecast Wednesday night snow they would be buried again.



We did get the Wednesday night snow and on Thursday I photographed my white camellia bushes (no white flowers but white nonetheless).



Friday afternoon when some of the snow melted I went in my backyard to see if I could see the narcissus yet. The reason it looks so icy is we had some sleet on top of the snow and then it was so cold Thursday night that everything that started melting froze solid.



I was rewarded although doubtful as cold as it's getting tonight they'll survive without being wrapped in a total snow blanket like they were with the other cold nights.



Some of the snow had dropped off my camellia bushes and they have small enough buds that I expect they'll make out o.k. My neighbors red camellia buds were larger and they turned black in the cold, sleet and snow. 



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The Weekend in Black and White: It's not easy being a bird in winter

I could have made my title it's not easy being a bird or human in winter since I lost power for 18 hours but it's still harder being a bird. My furnace is running full blast warming up my freezing house. 



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SkyWatch Friday: Door Shots

I took the first shot from my front door today (February 25, 2015) after the sun came out and the second shot from my deck door today when the sun briefly knocked the clouds away.



More snow is forecast for tonight but much of the snow we had from Tuesday had melted this afternoon with the sun and warmer temperatures so the fresh snow will probably only return us to where we were early this morning.



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Nature Notes and Our World Tuesday: mid to late February

I think it's amazing how different the mourning doves look in the sunshine and in the overcast cold weather.



All birds are like this but somehow looking through my shots at the dove puffed out in the cold and relaxed in the sun, the differences struck me in particular.



Wednesday some of the ice and sleet had melted from Monday night's storm when a fast snow shower ripped through in early evening to coat everything before the temperatures took a nose dive.



The rufous sided towhee (female) had a mouth full below.



I saw a lot of doves on my deck this past week.



The female cardinal also got caught with her mouth full.



Male cardinals are winter's bright flowers.



Next to the sparrow the female cardinal looks rather colorful although they look muted next to male cardinals.



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