March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb. (old proverb)
The month of March has carried the winter banner forward – snow, a bit of rain, and more snow. Bitter temperatures come and go – at least the garden is covered by a deep layer of snow, tucked in safely for the season. For most of us in North America, the winter has been long and difficult and I, at least, long for the return of spring.
The garden is asleep, as witnessed by Zelda peering out from her wintry cap. (here is Zelda in warmer times) Snow whiteouts have become common, spectacular and ghost-like. The world is gray and white and brown but I am dreaming of color. To satisfy my need for the hues and vibrancy of the garden, I have begun spending the first hour of each day watching YouTube garden videos. They remind me that the garden season is not so far away and I am inspired to plant seeds, propagate plants, and dream of the days to come.
I am looking forward to the “out like a lamb” part of March. Warmer weather is predicted next week, so perhaps spring really is at hand. In the meantime, winter, however unwelcome, is still a beautiful season. (All images ©2015 Lynn Emberg Purse, All Rights Reserved)
The March wind roars like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver as he passes by.
When winds are soft, and the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb, then spring is here. ~Anonymous
composerinthegarden 
Is your Zelda named after Zelda Fitzgerald?
Good question, Steve, but no, she reminded me of Princess Zelda from the video game “The Legend of Zelda” that my students love so much. At first merely a princess to be rescued by the hero, she eventually became a playable character and warrior maiden. Here’s a link to an image of her in warrior garb: http://nintendonews.com/2014/06/princess-zelda-midna-confirmed-hyrule-warriors/
Definitely different-looking when compared to Zelda Fitzgerald:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelda_Fitzgerald
Everything’s dripping merrily here and we’re looking forward to temps in the 50’s…can hardly believe it! But I always miss the stillness of winter and welcome its return every year, although right now, I long to be up to my elbows in earth and drinking in green breezes…Thank you for these lovely words, images, and links, Lynn; gentle peace and joy as your winter ends.
I hope that means your weather is coming our way, Kitty! As much as I can appreciate the aesthetic beauty of winter, it is so austere. And long. So, I can’t wait to be “up to my elbows in earth” as soon as possible 🙂 Enjoy the start of spring!
Monty Don has long been a favourite of ours.
That’s nice to hear, Tootlepedal. I still have my original copy of “The Sensuous Garden” – a real treasure and my introduction to his writing. I was thrilled to see him on the Gardener’s World vids and especially love “Around the World in 80 Gardens” – I’m a fan.
I too am impatient for the lamb to make an appearance. There are hints today, a sunny day in the 40s with the snow melting, that the little wooly one is coming soon.
Right there with you! Today’s temps are in the high 30’s; here’s to the appearance of “the little wooly one”!
Garden slides or videos are ideal foils for one’s music – I take it, though, that in this case the music was selected from outside.
I have seen you combine your compositions with garden pictures – does it generally happen that you compose to suit the shots, or take pictures to fit the music?
That’s a great question, Colonialist! Sometimes I create the video first and then compose a soundtrack (as in a film) but other times I use a composed track and add images to fit it (a la music video). It depends on the situation. I didn’t create these videos; they are BBC productions but I found the music soundtrack for Carol Klein’s videos to be lovely, and sometimes poignant.
The track certainly works.
I have been finding it easier to match visuals with the moods of a complete symphony/trio/sonata rather than to try to compose snippets to fit a series of images. Trouble is, I have been a bit lazy about the appropriateness of all the images.
I liked watching Carol work – she just gets right in there, no nonsense. Before too long, you will, too – but meanwhile, I’m glad you took advantage of the white beauty – such a lovely sight, your garden in the snow.
Carol is one of my new garden heroes! Her enthusiasm is contagious and she has inspired a new level of energy for gardening in me 🙂 And yes, I must admit that the snowy landscape entrances the photographer in me and frustrates the gardener in me. Life is always complicated . . .
very much like the image with bench; the symmetry and stillness. I also like March; its such a flirt. But you can feel every day the sun staying longer. In Northern New York and Minnesota we cross country skied a lot in March; the sun had real warmth and you often hear the trickle of snow melting and running off trees. I really love that winter country feeling, and I miss it in the city. Anyway, lovely sentiments and photos in your missive to change and rebirth above!
Doug, thank you – there is no doubt that the sun is stronger and longer. March as a flirt – that is a great thought, and perhaps rivals T.S. Elliot’s famous statement that “April is the cruelest month.” But I know that you love winter too. It seems that we are headed inexorably into spring as the temperatures begin to rise.
When I’ve spent winters in the Alps I end up longing for signs of colour and spring. Not long now.
Ive been enjoying blogs from the southern hemisphere as a way of injecting colour to my life!
HI Claire – great to see you! A great idea to visit southern hemisphere blogs; thank you for sharing that.
OOOOoo I really liked the first video! I marked it in Pocket to come back and to view the rest as I go.
Elisa, it is a great series; I’ve watched them all more than once – a great way to start a cold white winter day 🙂
Beneath that blanket of snow much life awaits. Winter always seems the longest of seasons, doesn’t it?
It does, Joss, but I keep hoping to see under the blanket soon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I good to see your still around. 🙂 Oh I see why you need the warm and bright.! I never knew. There were garden You tube videos how lovely. I feel guilty with all our sunshine. Well too much sunshine. I probably won’t pu in a garden not enough water. Yeah succulents.
I’ve been hibernating, Carol 🙂 Yes, it is good to see your sunshine. The best thing about all of our snow is that it restores the groundwater and adds nitrogen to the garden – the proverbial silver lining.
Though Angel seems to enjoy the snow, spring can’t come soon enough, IMO. The last five weeks have just been brutal in NE Illinois and central Indiana–countless record lows have been set in both places and we got a 20-inch snowfall in the Chicago area about a month ago, just to add insult to injury.
A thaw is apparently coming in the next few days; I’ll be very much looking forward to signs of green (and other colors) from your garden, Lynn, in the coming weeks.
20″ – ouch! I think we got about 8″ that storm. It has been a seemingly endless winter, Kerry – we are on Spring Break this week and this is the first time I’ve not been able to get into the garden the first week of March to do some pruning and cleanup. I look forward to that thaw and hope to see some flowers emerge from the snow 🙂
A few days of warmer temperatures, some melted snow, and I think that garden will come roaring back! Beautiful shots.
Thanks, Audrey. Warmer weather is supposed to be on the way – I look forward to the change!
Your garden has been hibernating, but I imagine it getting restless … which means it will burst forth with activity very soon. Hope all is well!
You are right, Frank – not sure if the garden is restless (perhaps under the snow?) but I sure am! Life has been very busy here, teaching more of a load than I was expecting, but all is well. Thanks for stopping by.
Well … one way to look at it that the snow insulates the ground, but if life isn’t restless now, it will be soon. Bummer on the load, but I know you’ll get through it.
Beautiful photographs to compliment your expressive words. Lovely. So peaceful…waiting for Spring.
Thank you, Jots! Lovely, yes, but I’m ready for spring!
Gorgeous shots and garden!
Thanks, Cindy – cold, snowy, but lovely.