These tulips have been up since February. Do you think the other bulbs make fun of them? Like, “Hey, look at those assholes. Yeah, it’s called winter for reason!” These Florentine tulips were up early last year too. I thought I would commemorate their journey in the sleet with a few photos. I found some crocuses and hyacinths too, though they weren’t the eager beavers like the tulips.

These striped scuppers are some crocuses. To the right I think I see another wild tulip species that’s jumped the gun–Clusiana.
I’m hoping again this spring to be inundated by the scent of fragrant daffodils wafting from this bed, but given the tunnels in the mulch, I’m a little worried. I’d be more worried, but I don’t think either hyacinths or daffodils are appetizing to pests.
Peering deep into the bloom, I’m able to catch a glimpse of the artichoke-shaped head of blooms. These heirloom varieties are the biggest I’ve seen–a foot tall. Marie is so dark, purple bleeds into the green buds.
Of course, the greatest tragedy of this weather is the inactivity our bulldog must suffer. With the backyard an utter mud hole, there are days he just doesn’t get out. The street around our house is nothing but winding hills, so unfortunately there’s not great place to walk him either. He gathers the corpses of his Jolly Balls on the back porch to remind us we’re neglecting him.

Yes I make him jump through that hoop. Sometimes I wear my fur hat and we go out in the snow. I feel like a Russian circus trainer.
Pictures taken with a Lumix camera, using a ham-fisted approximation of a titl-shift camera, and then beaten about with GIMP.