Snow That Sticks Around....
We have been having a Somewhat snowy Winter, Dear Readers, mostly because it has been so cold that even the very tiny amounts of snow that have fallen don't melt even on sunny days! And most of those amounts have been what are called "a dusting"..... not really even measurable! But on a couple of occasions we have had a more robust amount collect, five even six inches have piled up. And almost every time the beautiful early morning before the snow is blown off the trees and bushes we have that magical "Winter Wonderland" outside our doors! And so I wanted to remind you of the beauty of this by bringing out the Winter Lilac Shrub and showing the fresh snowfall at The Folly Dollhouse. (Yes, it snowed here in RL a couple of nights ago!) Do you even remember the epic 18 months process of building the Lilac Shrub in four seasonal versions? The entire reason for this idea was so that I could show you The Folly in Winter as well as Spring and Summer! And once this idea had come to pass, it necessitated that all The Folly Garden flora be produced in seasonal variations. Above you can see the Lilac in it's Winter finery. But as some of you are aware, this year I have added the Rhododendron Shrub to this Garden, with the flowering shrub in May and the Summer Green one in July... all I needed to do was make the Winter version, right?
Oh Look! The sun is coming out as we stand here!
Isn't it beautiful?
And if we step back just a little....
Wait... is that Snow on the Rhododendron too????
Heavens, what a beautiful sight!
Wow!
Well, Dear Readers, this is the reason I go to so much trouble!
It just is so darn beautiful!
(And I wouldn't want to have to give up on the May blossoms either!)
And no, I am not quite Super Woman and
already made the third Rhododendron shrub...
I took the already "finished" summer leafy one
and just added the snow to it!
This is partly because I was not satisfied
with the "end product" of the Summer one...
the leaves were not quite assembled to make
the best "dense coverage" possible
and so it always looked a bit sparse to me.
I was going to need to start over with a different leaf attaching plan.
But rest assured, I have been making leaves!
All Fall and well into December
I continued the daily leaf batch factory.
There are more than 50 batches in the above dish....
(each batch is forty leaves)
just waiting for me to get out the glue and start attaching leaves!
And, of course, the sun didn't stick around long....
it faded back into the overcast sky...
But I don't mind....
it just means the snow will stick around for a while!
And I can give it the attention it deserves!
Oh, and I see Mr. Gnome is out to have a look as well!
(His home is hidden in the Garden somewhere....!)
And in case you wanted to see my RL garden, Dear Readers,
with the snow not melting because of the cold....
it has not gone above freezing for days
and has been down to -9 degrees Fahrenheit the other morning!
(That is nine below zero fahrenheit!)
The view from my window!
And back in December, the picture perfect snowfall
coated my RL Rhododendron with
exactly the evidence I needed
to complete my Winter Wonderland Rhododendron!
Isn't it gorgeous?
And the close up view....
just so you know I am not making this up!
It's the Real Winter Wonderland, Dear Readers,
Even if this snow did not stick around
Quite as long as the mini snow will!
Tu rododendro se ve magnífico con la nieve,realmente precioso!!!
ReplyDeleteHas trabajado muchísimo,tantísimas hojas!
Besos.
Well, it worked, Betsy, I absolutely LOVE seeing Winter Wonderland(scapes) outside, as you know!
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful lilac bush in winter (and all other seasons) is absolutely a mini wonder in your mini winter wonderland! Yes, I remember how long you spent time on it, I still admire your perseverance and patience to make all four seasons of this lilac bush in miniature!
I love seeing that glimpse (and beam) of sunlight, it makes the bush AND the snowy Rhododendron in the photo even more spectacular realistic than it already is. I admire your willpower to make another Rhododendron bush, hats off, as we say here!!
Yes, please, let the snow lie for a while in your miniature winter wonderland, that is doubly enjoyable for your precise work, right?!
What a large garden you have at your house, Betsy, I can imagine that garden gives you the necessary inspiration, especially for your winter wonderland version of your miniature garden. Your mini Rhododendron with snow looks very realistic, for sure. And because I am a winter lover: thank you for the pictures with snow, from the bottom of my heart ;). Stay warm.
Hugs, Ilona
Dear Betsy, this post is an absolute delight! I can't even tell you how much it made me smile! You've made the most beautiful winter wonderland, and the sparkling snow in the sunlight is magical. It was also a treat to see your real garden covered in snow.
ReplyDeleteLa estampa de tu jardín es preciosa y la réplica en miniatura te ha quedado fantástica, un gran trabajo
ReplyDeleteMe encanta, te ha quedado muy realista!
ReplyDeleteDear Betsy,
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to tell apart the wonderland garden from your R/L garden, your work being so fantastic.
Snow is something very special where I live. When, once in several years it appears here, and only on the highest zones, you can see hundreds of families, travelling up with their their children to see the phenome for the first time in their life.
Stay safe and warm.
Hugs, Drora
Betsy, it is just a miracle that anyone can survive those temperatures in winter!! Dang that is cold. Still, it inspired you to make your winter rhododendron, so that's great! And your garden does look beautiful in snow.
ReplyDeleteMy, I'm late to drop by... I missed 3 (!!!) posts (yes, "only" three... because I already commented on the one before "What happens when elves come to play" and had to notice that it had disappeared from your blog too like the other one on the C-card. But I had saved it this time and have used my copy for a new comment... let's see what will happen to that one... and this one... and the two still to come... aaaahhhhrrrggghhh... what have I done to deserve this, blogger???) due to various reasons in RL, one of them dealing with a bit of snow too since last Thursday. Luckily not big amounts of that da*n cold white stuff, the landscape is only (as we call it) powdered with snow. But while I truly dislike that cold white stuff in my place I really like to enjoy it in pictures which show a) winter beauty and b) don't force me to grab my snow shovel. *LOL*
ReplyDeleteSo it was a big pleasure to see your lovely garden covered in that cold white stuff and even more enabling you to study how rhododendron shrubs look like when covered with snow. Because... the new arrived Most-amazing-and-stunning-miniature-rhododendron-shrub-ever-in-its-winter-version needed for sure to turn out as realistic as possible. And you managed to do so (of course)... that's why I'm in no way surprised that Mr. Gnome dropped by to admire this beautiful shrub in its winter glory.
And although your planned summer version of your miniature rhodies didn't turn out as you wanted it to turn out it was in now way a failure and no waste of time as it now makes a great appearance in its new role of "winter rhodie". And in the end... even in perfect timing to show up at winter season and showing up together with the beautiful winter lilac for the first time. I wish I could really express how beautiful this couple looks in front of the wintery Folly... believe me, I enjoyed this post to the fullest!
Hugs
Birgit
Preciosos los rododendros y muy bonitas imágenes.
ReplyDelete