Is Winter Over Yet?

The temperatures are bouncing from the low 70's to the high 20's.  It's a brutal swing.  My hankering for the grip of a trowel is almost unbearable.  I see small hints of tulips, daffodils and sedums poking through.  I have Hellebores about to bloom.  It is my first season with the Hellebore, I am anxious to meet the fella and to find out if the real estate is acceptable.

Arborvitaes and Mr Bowling Ball evergreens covered in snow 

I have tried to keep busy looking through catalogs, reading blogs and making garden designs on graph paper, but I've had just about enough.  I need green. And I need it now!!
These photos are from a few weeks ago.  It is early March in Illinois and we have not seen snow this month, but I am not convinced it has run it's course.

Inside the garden trellis under the snow, Arborvitae, Mr Bowling Ball, 'Halfway to Arkansas' Amsonia, 'Vanilla Strawberry' Hydrangea and Obediant plant

I added a small number of Evergreens last year so they would hold the snow on days just like this one.  With out some mishappen shapes and void of any color I can forget what lies dormant.  Everything I seem to choose is slow growing, so, other than the Arbs, the others aren't doing much to create a scene.  They were too puny to even dress with Christmas lights.  I'll give them time and more friends.

Arborvitae hedge in the snow with my Apple birdhouse and 'Golden Jubilee" Agastache

This rounded hedge of Arbs will someday grow together, if all goes according to my plan.  And why wouldn't it?  Doesn't everything grow just as the store tags read and in half the time?
If only....
This hedge was placed in fall of 2013.  It was totally replaced in Spring of 2014 because the winter was Harsh (with a capitol 'H').  Two more were added in Summer of 2014.  Then 2 of my 7 dwarfs did not make it and were replaced in Spring of 2015.  Geesh!!

Red Apple Bird House

I hope to see a bird family in my beloved Apple Bird house.  When we moved onto Appleton, my daughters boyfriend scored some points and spoke my love language by hand making me this house warming gift.

Each Spring a twitter-pated young couple of birds start packing in nesting material, but I never see them actually occupy the home.

Maybe I should put a For Rent sign out front...








A view down the fence line of a flat snow patch.  I fret and stew all winter at this sight.  I want to add more winter interest to the area, yet I'm stingy and selfish with the space for my summer bloomers.  How can I have both in such a skinny strip?  I tired some Sky Pencil Holly's but they did not make it through their first winter, and since they weren't cheap I did not try them again.....ugh

Limelight Hydrangea, Virginia Creeper and Jack Mani Clematis in their winter display

The other side of this is a little better.  The 'Jack Mani' Clematis shamelessly is draped on the wire racks.  We installed those last Spring so the vines will cover tour view of the fence, and not topple over to the neighbor's side.  I'm sure they would not mind, they are quite lovely, but my neighbors are rarely outside and therefore cannot appreciate the brilliant blooms.  So I get bossy and direct the vines to grow sideways instead of up.
The twiggy structure is my 'Black lace' Elderberry.  I'm in love with this guy, but realize he needs some training.  We will wait until after the Spring Blooms.  They better be big and bright because I picked out special companion plants to help show them off.
I don't remember right now what they are, but I'm eager to see them all the same.

'Jack Mani' Clematis on trellis, 'Black lace' Elderberry in its dormant state and Miscanthus grass variety unknown 

Up against the house, another baren landscape for the most part, but again, I want the space for the Flower Power.  Are gardeners always torn like this. For each patch of ground we must choose a season to which enjoy it.  There are so many choices.....

Mr Bowling Ball, Pee gee Hydrangea, Autumn Joy Sedum, Weigela, Liatris stalks 

Pee Gee Hydrangea, and Mr Bowling Ball at the base with hints of Purple Sedum then Siberian Iris in the way back

Sedum seed heads under snow caps with Blackberry iris leaning over

Sorry birdies...I've left this empty so long, you don't even come around to look anymore.  I promise to make it the store.  Just give me another week...or two

2015 was all about building the specimens of the front yard.  I added 2 trees, 6 evergreens, 2 hydrangeas, a Summer sweet shrub, 4 Spirea and many other perennials.  But it needs some height.  My list is so very long, I have to buy the little ones and wait.

Winter view of young foundation plantings

'Rainbows End' Alberta Spruce and garden store purchases that forgot to get planted in front of 'Sweet Autumn' Clematis

Dwarf Blue Spruce in front of 'Annabelle' Hydrangeas.  Creeping phlox in turned over pot

This is nothing to showcase.  This is the "My-plans-are-so-very-big,-I-can't-hardly-stand-it" area of my space.  I'm only putting it here to serve as historical documentation.  I do this in hopes that the transformation is miraculous.
This is the North side of my land and has full sun, part shade, and full dry shade...hmmmm.  The tree (unknown) and the grass given to me by a friend are the only markers that stand above the snow.

Winter view of projects yet to come....just wait. I'm coming for you

Don't get me wrong, I do love the winter scenes.  They go perfect with a fireplace and fluffy socks.  I would miss this if I lived somewhere South.  I appreciate this for so long, but when the weather hints at Spring, I get a hint and I'm ready.
To everything there is a season... and my anxiety cannot alter the speed of time.  So I am here, inside just waiting.