This Week at Iten's Acres: Half-way February 5, 2018

Around half-way through a real winter at The Acres. Snow, cold, and the breeze I love in the summer is the chilling wind of winter. The walks require some bundling, but are worth the effort. Pond is frozen. The conifers show off in the midst of the dormancy of the rest of the trees. A reminder, I think, that under the snow and under the frozen "tundra" life goes on. The pond is frozen solid--hope the goldfish are snuggled in whatever they snuggle in. The Sentinel looks... as if he's just another tree waiting for spring. The Lenten rose and rhododendron are fearless green as well. And, of course, since it's mid-February, the pussy willow by the pond is starting to bloom. Silver blooms in a gray world. The birds feasted on the dogwood berries a long time ago. By now, most of the crab apples are gone as well. I still have some work to do--if one of these weekends gets warm enough to allow some clearing of some brush. A couple beds need to be "prepared" for a little revision as well. I have a feeling that may have to wait until early March. February seems in no hurry to warm up. Maybe a late spring this year--I can wait. Old age is a lesson in patience. Until then, the snow is beautiful, the beds are warmly blanketed, the Cardinals ornament the trees, the other birds are feasting at the Iten feeders and at God's feeders--lots of seeds out here in the country, and every walk reminds me that winter is a beautiful time of year in its own right. Beauty is not where you find it; it's everywhere all the time. You just have to take the time to see it.