Skywatch Friday - changing conditions

This week has been an interesting one, weather wise, hasn't it? Monday brought snow to our location twice. Once in the morning (accumulation: 2 inches), then a brief warm-up midday, then snow again in the afternoon (accumulation: 2 inches).

It was apparent we weren't in for an easy ride that day
when these ominous-looking clouds (above) showed up.

Tuesday morning was freezing cold. Of course the roads here were a sheet of ice, so rather than slip and slide to my class that day, I played hooky.

But the clouds began to part, and the sun shone.


And the photo above was taken yesterday. So you see, the weather has definitely taken a turn for the spring!
Yes, there, I've said it. Spring. It's in the air.

A second skywatch for the blog today, special just for you, includes a couple shots of our local beauty, Mount Rainier with what looks like smoke signals coming from her recently.

Do you think she's telling us...yes, Spring is on the horizon!?

~Aerie-el

Skywatch Friday

Wordless Wednesday - pussy willow spring

Wordless Wednesday

The 'S' word

No, not Spring. I wish.
No, not Summer. Just a dream.
Yes, Snow.
Despite my having written it really, really small in my previous post.
(You can click on any of the pictures to see them really, really big.)

Here are a few shots around the yard this marvelous Monday morning.

I really enjoy taking pictures of and in the snow. But I think at this point this year, this weather is for the birds.
Here are some that visited the suet feeder this morning.

Just waiting, wishing, and hoping for Spring to truly make its appearance.

~Aerie-el

This Friday Morning...

This morning's sunrise looked like this, against the icy landscape.

This weekend we're expecting more
(maybe if I write it really small, we'll get only a really small amount of)
snow.

In an effort of positive thinking and optomism regarding the weather,

I have purchased plants for the garden...

and some seeds too (nothing fancy, just fun)...

And while I was taking photos of the plants and seeds,
a hawk decided to land fairly near me.

A few seconds later, evidently scared off, my camera lens being the likely spoiler.

Away it flew to join it's mate in the tree.

I also heard a buzzing in the sarcacocca, and amazingly enough,
there were two busy bees.


So I guess despite the wintry weather lately,
the birds and the bees know that spring is in the air.

14 days and counting...
Are you ready?

MARVELOUS MOSS

Let's face it. Moss evokes feelings in people.
You love it or you hate it.

I'm in the former category, and find it to be both a fascinating and
an amazing little plant.

So for those of you who hate it, you better just skip reading this
because it's gonna be a lovefest of moss that follows!
(click on any picture to see it larger)

While visiting the site of the Battle of Culloden in Scotland, not only did the solemness of the area strike me, but also the beauty and peacefulness.
The picture above is a close up of the marvelous moss plants pictured below on those grounds.

I had been thinking about posting a mass o' moss photos and sharing my fascination with these plants when I came across a wonderful article in the Feb/Mar issue of Horticulture magazine. That spurred me to action. With the lightening speed of a snail, I've gotten this group of photos together...

Except for the first two photos taken in Scotland, these specimens are all from my very own yard and gardens.

Chartreuse!

Some people fight the moss in their lawn. I love it. It's green pretty much all the time, and it's so soft and cushiony.

It grows with wild abandon in the damp, shady areas - love that!

So if you live in the Pacific Northwest, have plenty of evergreens around, nice moist acidic soil, embrace the marvelous moss that grows. And here's an extra bonus, you also save money by not buying those moss-killer products!

If you want to see a really cool moss garden, check out the
Bloedel Reserve Moss Garden for a virtual tour!
I think that needs to be my next garden outing.

Where's yours?

~Aerie-el