Looking up, up, up.......

During my garden walk I decided not to look down at all the dirty snow and thick ice. Not to look down at all the fallen leaves from last autumn. Isn't it so much better to get a stiff neck from looking up, up, up.......I said to myself.

And so I did.

Birches, pines, spruces, and blue, blue sky, dotted with white here and there. I was lucky timing my walk, snow shower have passed over the blue garden several times during the day.

But now there were no signs of snow, believe me, I even almost forgot that the soles in my old garden shoes are worn paperthin and drank rotten snow like a sponge..........I must remember to change into dry socks as soon as I have finished my writing.

I wish I was a child again. Climbing these trees together with Marta (she did not allow me to take a photo of her climbing today, but here you have one from our cabin last March)

Lifting my eyes up, up, up, and a new world is opening.

Another day will be for looking down and around.........

Yes! The Blue Garden is open for the season!

The Blue Furniture is still stored away down in the old doll house, but now it is official, The Blue Garden is open for the season. We are still fighting the snow, and only the sunrays manage to give us some warmth, but we have had our first cup of coffee out in the garden.

That was yesterday, one of those rare Sundays when life showed its best side from every corner. Today we have been back to work, and it seems like the clouds and showers felt they had some spring cleaning to do.
I have started The Blue Garden's 2008 Chronicle, and every millimeter of growth of every single plant in the garden is written down - at least these first days of spring.

Marta digged deep in her wardrobe and found a sleeveless top and a jeans shorts from last summer. In between "helping the snow to melt" she let her bare feet and arms bathe in sun.

A Sunday morning walk in early spring.

When I opened my eyes this morning I was met by the sun shining through our north faced window. The days are getting long now with daylight from the wee hours of the morning. I know more frost will be coming for a couple of months still, but this night was without frost - which was good for me as I forgot to take in my flower basket.

Signs of spring are everywhere in the garden. Daffodill bulbs praising light, sempervivum still seeking some warmth under a quilt of last year's leaves but slowly, slowly starting its growth, a bird house with a To Let sign (may be I must ask Marta to paint one), a sunny terracce inviting me, my book and my pot of fresh brewed coffee out, a basket filled with old garden magazines......

The gardener is awak again.

Leirfivel, hestehov, tussilago farfara (latin) - this first spring flower has alot of different names. In a few weeks we will call in a weed. These days it is the first playful sign of a coming spring and summer.

I am reading garden books and magazines, I have planted the first seeds indoors, a small round table and two café chairs have found their place in the terrace and I am back to my daily garden walks (still dancing my steps in between patches of snow.

I love this time of the year.

Seek and You Shall Find

Seek and You Shall Find.......I wonder if Jesus had a Norwegian early spring garden in mind when he said these words. The Blue Garden is situated up on the hills above Trondheim, and though the snow has melted downtown and near the fjord, we still have alot of snow to struggle with here. Something my husband is happy about, he can still cross country ski most afternoons.

We are having nice and springlike weather these days though, so after dinner I decided to do a little "seek and you shakk find" game outdoors. We cover most of our flower beds with pinebranches during the winter months, and when I lifted a few of them today I found that everywhere under the green needles, bulbs are eager to seek light. Tulips and narcissuses are everywhere. In a few weeks time now I can invite you to a colour feast.

Seek and You Shall Find. I am back to my daily garden walks routine.........

Welcome

My garden is one of my main sources of refilling energy into my veins. My old neighbour couldn't wait longer and is out today, in the midst of the snow, starting her garden spring clean. I am saying to myself that my book has priority untill April 10th, after that date I am going to do like my dear neighbour...........Meanwhile I have been over to the garden center to buy some welcoming blue. Passers by will now know that they are welcome to the blue garden.

And readers of this blog should know that my garden hibernating is over.

I am awake!

Patience is not my word.

At this time of the year I am always impatient. There is always too much snow out in the garden, the days can't get mild enough. And I share mt impatience with life growing deep down in the slowly melting soil. And I share my impatience with the birds. They do their very best to teach me how to enjoy these long spring days. With singing. They wake me early every morning with their triumphant song, and their tunes follow my day. A wonderful praise of life.

The snow has started to melt and I can walk around the house now. But still most of our property is covered in a dirty, white quilt.