Skipping Winter?

After last year’s major whammy of a winter, we seem to be skipping winter altogether here in Arkansas. One thing’s for sure—our weather is becoming more and more extreme. I hope that by calling out this crazy idea of skipping winter, Ole Man Winter will straighten himself out, and we will indeed have more seasonable weather in January.

The plants and animals depend on it.

We all do.

I’ll admit it—eating cobbler and vanilla ice cream outside on Christmas Day was kinda nice. Walking Annabelle and Gracie without wearing our Icelandic gear has been kinda nice too. But I need a little winter. I would very much appreciate a few inches of snow.

Bah humbug to skipping winter, I say.

I love and anticipate certain things about each and every season, and call me crazy, but I prefer seasons come and go according to the calendar. Winter is my time for hunkering down and bundling up, for planning and dreaming about the year ahead, for hibernating.

Hibernating and air-conditioning don’t mix.

I took the following pictures between Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas.

Clematis soon to bloom.

Flowering Quince about to flower.

Tiny pink buds have exploded on our climbing roses. This happened early last winter too resulting in very few spring roses.

Orange poppies have popped up all along College near downtown Fayetteville. The greenery is so lush they look to have been freshly planted.

Honeysuckle providing winter color.

Our azaleas have decided to bloom.

Leatherleaf Mahonia will soon be in full bloom. This plant usually blooms in latest winter.

This article from NPR is thorough and specific, and I hope you’ll read and share it. Bees, bats, blueberries—our food sources, the US and world economy, crops—the effects of climate change are alarming and sobering to me.

Meanwhile, I’ll be dreaming of snow for Epiphany.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.