I’ve not been spending much time outdoors of late. The job means I leave and return in the dark, or near enough. The constant rain keeps me in on the weekends, too.
Today, however, there have been little glimmers of sunshine now and again. So I got outside and cleaned up here and there – swept up chunks of moss that flew from the roof, picked up dog poo. I also took the last remaining branches off our Christmas tree, and hauled the trunk outside to saw into fireplace sized chunks. Then I swept again, which at first made me feel stupid for having to do it twice, but then I realised there was just as much new moss as there was before I had swept at all.
It’s sunny and dry, it doesn’t mean there is no wind!
Chores out of the way, I had a little walkabout to see what, if anything, was growing. What a surprise to see this out front:
Snowdrops! Of course, they are one of the earliest to show their heads in spring. But the last time I looked, there wasn’t even any greenery, much less flowers!
Also out front:
My scraggly tulips are well on their way. These are at least 8in (20cm) high already. Not good, really – I think it is way too soon for this much leaf. Hope it doesn’t frost or snow.
I got these for free two autumns ago:
Daffodils. I really don’t care for them that much, but hey, they were free and I just stuck them in the grass in the swampiest part of the back garden.
The big surprise, however, was finding this:
A rosebud, in January? Oh dear. The weather is certainly unusual this year!
heretherebespiders 
lovely photos
Thanks! FYI, your comment got marked as spam, when clearly it isn’t. I hope you aren’t having any other issues with that!
How loverly! I’ve never seen Snow Drops in Florida and the rose bush looks like it has new growth aleady. It must be all of the rain. The weather his is sunny and mild, so it’s hard for me to not be outside! I don’t get much housework done though 😦
Snow drops and crocus usually come up about the same time, maybe a bit earlier for the ‘drops. It only went below freezing once or twice all winter, so no frosts to speak of and only a dusting of snow one day. Bah! It always rains here. Always. Sigh. Where are ye in FL? I grew up in Destin.
There is hope — you have a rosebud in January! And all I have is snow and ice. But I do have a blooming narcissus in the house. Love the pictures.
Welcome! I had narcissus last year, I still have them but forgot to mess with their little bulb-brains to make them bloom for the holidays. I guess if it isn’t going to get cold, I had better put them in the fridge for a bit!
Those snowdrops flowers are early! Here they show up somewhere in March or April.
I thought they were! I never really paid attention, we’ve only had them three years (this being the third bloom).
Oh yah. Weather is totally weird here too. Deer all over the place, confused about whether they’re loading up for the snow that won’t come, or rutting, or what. Many, many deer-strikes. I hit one. Unbelievably sad and horrible. And thousands of dollars damage done to a friend’s car — with no collision insurance. Glad to be looking at new flowers on your post!
Oh no! That is terrible. You were okay, though? I’ll have to ask my dad what it’s like up in his part of AR. He has a huuuuge garden that did nothing last year as it was too hot to plant.