Who You Callin' Yeller?!

Just a peek at a few of the early bloomers in our garden this Saturday. Two cheery yellows! First a closeup of the small blooms on Leatherleaf Mahonia. This plant can be invasive, but I am hooked on it because the deer won't touch it due to its prickly, leathery leaves (hence the name . . .). It blooms in winter and even though these blooms were a bit damaged by the snow and ice, the plant is still attractive. I'm making a bit of a Mahonia Wall at the edge of the woods behind our house - this is where the local deer gang cross into our yard and I'm hoping this will deter them. So the evergreen leaves and winter blooms are a bonus and I'll keep you posted on the effectiveness of this prickly barrier!

The other yellow bloomer this week is seen below. Like many people, I love daffodils. While I've planted many different varieties in the front gardens, these are growing in the woods behind our house. They just pop up throughout the woods and bloom weeks earlier than the ones I've planted. We always wonder who planted them and how long ago . . .

Often we see daffodils growing around old houses that have been vacant for decades - sometimes the houses have disappeared altogether, but a few trees and clumps of daffodils remain. What a great reminder of the people who once lived there . . .

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Variations on a Theme: Gray

Waterloo Bridge, Gray Day - Monet, 1903

Another gray day! (Or another grey day if you're in other English-speaking countries.) Even on sunny days, gray has a slightly negative reputation - gray hair, etc. But, in the winter, gray is associated with All Things Dreary: stormy skies, rainy weather, snow plow slush, and . . . gray hair. I think gray needs a bit of positive PR - so here are a few Grays that are far from dreary.

Gray can be sophisticated and elegant as seen in this 1911 painting by John Singer Sargent, aptly titled Repose:

And, while I don't think it's the right look for me (!), gray hair (not to mention a well-tailored gray suit) can be very cheery . . .

And what better way to zip around town than in this 1958 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud? The gray here clearly means luxury.

At home, gray can be calming yet beautiful:

Indoors and out:

So embrace today's grayness . . . wishing you a gray day!

Who Has the Cutest Hat in the Garden Today?

In our garden this fall, we're going back to basics with head coverings in natural, subdued colors: Honey Yellow, Iron, Creme Brulee, Rust, Sand, and Coffee. These mushroom clusters that sprang up overnight are bucking the puffy, rounded trend with these flat, taupe caps. I detect a slight Asian influence.

On the other side of the yard, these Sawtooth Oak Acorns have opted for frilly caps rather than the boring smooth traditional ones worn by the hundreds of other acorns in the garden. While these definitely have more panache, they don't seem to fit as well as the older style. Will this trend catch on? Only time will tell . . . but, if UGG boots can become popular anything is possible.

If you'd like to see what colors are in for people this year, consult the Pantone Color Report. Yes, the people who know what color exactly matches your company's logo have now moved into the world of fashion and design. As for me, I'm eagerly awaiting April to see what fashions are on for Spring!