February Already?

One of a few of January's light snows.

Hellebores starting to bloom!

How did I miss bulb-planting? How did I make such a fine start on cutting back perennials, then run out of steam well short of done? An erratic winter -- cold and very mild switching places often, and quickly -- perhaps doesn't help. And for two weeks I felt wiped out from a not-flu virus. And that brings us to early February, with the first bulbs preparing to bloom, the next pushing up, and so many weeds not killed back.

The (smelly) paperwhites or narcissus just started to bloom before our heaviest snow (2 inches? but it stuck around), and now look punk, unwilling to finish blooming. When I opened the bedroom blinds this morning, both snow flurries and a smear of red surprised me. The lenten roses have started blooming! The daphne bushes and spring beauty should be next up.