Winter-weary

Well friends, it's officially March 1st today and the last time I posted we were just recovering from the freak ice storm that hit during the Christmas season.  And now, over 2 months later, we're still suffering it's chilly aftermath, deep in the blustery abyss of the polar vortex  (excuse the melodrama, but really, this madness needs to end NOW!!!).  But hope remains for the green and the verdant and the sun and the warmth....can you feel it yet???!!!!

The boys from Mumford & Sons, capture this hopeful, sentiment best, in my fave ditty, Winter Winds. Cue the trumpets!!! (If you know the song, it's the best part) ....
                                                  Remember spring swaps snow for leaves        
                                                            You'll be happy and wholesome  again
                                                            When the city clears and sun ascends    

But despite it's icy chill, winter really is beautiful (as long as you don't have to shovel or drive in it).   Below are some images I captured of the garden after the ice storm and of the Mill's aptly named winter festival, Fire & Ice. The arrangement I made for the festival featured some bold, bright, blooms- giant orange amaryllis, textured leucadendron, gnarly curly willow, tulips (closed tulips are nice, but OPEN ones are way better!), under-rated Alstroemeria (so long lasting and such detail on each petal!) and of course some snowball viburnum, because, they are fun and fluffy and well, named after snowballs!!!

The amazing art featured in the shots are by Alton Mill, acrylic, mixed media goddess, Lucille Weber.  Her work is stunning and moves and dances, actually, it JUMPS off the canvas.  And lastly, the fire images are the  result of the genius of Mill artist,  Paul Morin, who put on an amazing spectacle with his  Fire Sculpture, complete with fire dancers, didgeridoos and djembes.