The weather continues to be rather backward. Yesterday was very chilly and we even had a few snow showers. It was dampening my spirits a little as well, so I decided to go for another walk and look at all the signs of new life which are appearing everywhere! It was a cold walk, but encouraging nonetheless and I returned with very cold feet but triumphantly bearing an armful of blooming Alder and Willow catkins!
I think the Pussy Willow branches look almost like pearls. There are a whole bunch of them in a swampy area down the road from us and when I first saw them a few days ago it was raining and they were just glistening...it was beautiful!
Most of the ground is bare now, but I loved seeing these in bloom with this snowy patch in the background...what a contrast!
The Speckled Alder catkins are really beautiful when viewed close-up! Sometime I hope to get a good strong magnifying glass so I can really study the details of smaller flowers.
Closeup of the Pussy Willows...
Ok, I knew I was asking for trouble bringing these into the house! I had brought some in last month to force, and it wasn't long before the kitties discovered them. This time, the moment I came in, Nastya attacked! 😁
I don't know if it's just that they dangle or if they taste good too, but they absolutely love these! They followed me all over the place, jumping onto furniture or my shoulder trying to get at them as I moved around the room, looking for a suitable place to set them.
I really wasn't satisfied with any of the pictures I took of the arrangement (it's a lot prettier than my pictures show!). It was just too windy to photograph outside and the lighting is terrible in the house. In one last attempt, I set them on the bedroom windowsill which still didn't help much, but I did capture another kitty moment, this time with Olga who was just checking them out. 😊
The vase is now adorning the kitchen table and I have my fingers crossed that the cats will leave it alone there. We have been trying to train them not to jump on the table but they still do it once in a while, and my sister thinks we're going to find a very wet table cloth very soon! 😃
I'm joining Cathy at Rambling in the Garden today for IAVOM. Visit her blog to see many beautiful flower arrangements gathered from all around the world!
String of pearls! They're lovely. The Speckled Alder catkins are amazing too.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of Speckled Alder around here and the catkins are so pretty, even during the winter...and anything with some winter interest is greatly appreciated up here. :D
DeleteYour kitties are as mischievous as mine is. Everything is a toy or food! It's hard being mad at them for long, however. Hope your lovely vase makes it! ;)
ReplyDeleteExactly! I can't get mad at them at all though, even if I try...they're just too cute! :D
DeleteGood to see the close ups of your catkins - Nature is indeed wonderful. Displaced vases must be an occupational hazard when you have cats, I guess! Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures, and roll on Spring!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm studying botany so am trying to make it a point to study flowers up close this year. Their beauties are even more wonderful when studied closely! :)
DeleteNastya is an exceptionally pretty cat - she probably thinks she can get away with anything. My own cat used to nip at my vases but, as she's an elderly lady now, she doesn't do that quite as often. Maybe your cats will mellow with age too ;) Your catkins are beautiful and I look forward to seeing the pussy willows in a future vase.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, they know all about how cute they are and that I can't get mad at them! :D I do hope they will settle down, but it might be a while. They aren't even quite a year old yet and they're also part Bengal. ;)
DeleteIts a lovely arrangement...somehow the gifts of the wild at the start of year are the most appreciated. For detail and study, perhaps as you are such a good photographer, take a good macro picture and blow this up on the screen? Hope you are able to use this suggestion. Have an interesting week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful idea Noelle! :) I actually tried something very similar this morning with some Coltsfoot flowers. Only since my camera isn't the greatest, I just take as close a picture as I can with it still in focus, then zoom in on that and crop it...it worked great! I'll probably be posting some of those pictures soon.
DeleteBefore the leaves appear it is magical finding things like this. Lovely vase - and I hope your spring arrives really soon!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! :) Thank you Cathy!
DeleteWe are experiencing some snow that it is finally melting. I am ready for a full blown warm up. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing that the midwest is also having well below normal temps...I sure hope spring comes for all of us soon! :)
Delete