Blue Skies. Yellow Crocuses!

One of the best things about Boston, I think, is the weather--generally speaking.  [You have to remember that we moved here from Buffalo and Pittsburgh, not San Diego.]  Right now, for example, the sky is blue and a few clouds are moving off to the South; ten minutes ago the rain was ending, and everything was gray--how terrific is that?  Except for this past winter, which was truly difficult, we think the weather here is mostly great.  And here is something else...it is seldom overcast in Boston; either it is actively precipitating or it is sunny, and usually as soon as it stops precipitating the sun comes out right away.  In many other places it is gloomy most of the time, instead, which is less good.

About those Persian crocuses. The very tiny yellow ones are blooming, which they always do a bit before the pale blue ones (also very tiny). 

Quickly surveyed the TTG for winter damage today; not as catastrophic as I feared, but the male holly, Ilex x meserveae (Blue Stallion), is pretty well snapped off at its top main stem, which is problematic for vertical growth!  When it isn't so windy, I will need to do something for it; not quite sure what.  Some artful pruning can probably make him presentable, and the female hollies (four of them) will be glad that he's still nearby. Hollies seem so flexible, but apparently that isn't exactly so.  We think the firethorn, Pyracantha, will be OK, although every year it's something else with that guy; fireblight, falling forward and coming nearly out of the ground, etc, etc.

Early March, 2011

Here is a view of a rear side fence with (from L to R) climbing hydrangea, H. anomala petiolaris;  a small clump of Fothergilla gardenii; and one of the female hollies, Ilex x meserveae (Blue Princess).