Friday, June 15, 2012

Bach in midwinter

 It was cold and damp when I arrived at the bach. It's been a few weekends since my last visit, and in winter the walls turn cold in the absence of someone to light a fire or turn on a heater.
But look! - the snow drops are out. Ever since I was a child I've loved these pristine little flowers, which seemed to me like tiny skirts for fairies. Why did nature come along with her paintbrush and add those green dots? I like to think it was for fun and beauty.
The other surprise is that the little kowhai tree is flowering prolifically. The yellow tongue-like flowers are even getting themselves twisted up in their eagerness to bloom.

Kowhai and snowdrops are flowers that I've always associated with spring. Yet here they are, dancing against the dark background of the bush, even though winter solstice has not yet arrived.

I lit the fire on arrival, and after some hours, the walls have warmed up, roast vegetables have come out of the oven and into my belly, and once again the bach has become a home.

12 comments:

Lynley said...

Our dwarf kowhais have also been flowering prolifically in the past few weeks Juliet....they are lovely to see in the darker garden these days.

Snowdrops dots are always so regular aren't they? Always in the right place on the flower.

Keep warm in your lovely bach

Juliet said...

Hi Lynley - so maybe it's the small kowhais that flower early? Those snow - drops are perfectly placed. I imagine taking a paint brush and trying to do as well - but I couldn't. Thank you, & I hope you are keeping warm too.

Max said...

Aren't they a cheering sight! No snowdrops here, but maybe some more snow which i like just as well. Have a lovely, cosy weekend x

Juliet said...

Hi Max, I've just been hearing about the snow on the radio. You stay warm too. Thanks for visiting.

Juliet said...

I meant to say I've been hearing on the radio about the snow!

Hotly Spiced said...

Those snow drops are just beautiful and I remember those trees with the yellow flowers very well. It's so lovely to have some colour in winter. Glad you were able to warm up the bach - what a great winter retreat xx

lifeonthecutoff said...

Juliet, your post just seemed to warm up, like your walls, with each and every word. I love snow drops, which can emerge as early as February here in a mild winter, and nature's paintbrush colors our flowers in the most amazing of ways, doesn't it?

Juliet said...

* Charlie, glad to remind you of the kowhai. The tuis love these trees and flock to them to sip nectar. I'm very lucky to have the bach.

* Penny, the freshness of the snowdrops is always a delight. That's such a nice comment you make, that my post seems to warm up. That's exactly how it felt. Thank you.

Lynley said...

I checked a plant nursery website Juliet and discovered that the dwarf kowhais do flower in winter. This is the most prolific flowering here I have ever seen and the display began before winter officially began.

Sadly the tuis don't seem to come down to the lower level kowhais here but maybe they know Jazz, the cat and other local cats could be about. Or they are happily supping on the flowering red gums at the moment.

Plants are so interesting when they surprise and delight us.

Juliet said...

Lynley, how interesting about the dwarf kowhais. Maybe that what I've got, because it did come from a nursery. Thank you for checking that out, and letting me know.

Lynley said...

Our dwarf kowhais are called "Dragon's Gold". Golden Dragon's breath to warm the winter perhaps?

Juliet said...

Dragons Gold - that's intriguing. I wish I had the original label from my tree, but I wasn't the one to buy it.