It is the middle of winter, but my garden doesn’t seem to know that. It’s been very spring-like here in Vancouver, even in the midst of the grey and the rain. It feels like early March, not mid-January. And while I’m sure the Vancouver 2010 organizers are less-than-thrilled about the slushy state of the local ski slopes, I’m rather enjoying it.
With the warm weather I’ve been outside and poking around my garden. I’m not really doing any work, yet, but I am making plans. And while I do that I can’t help but notice that my plants are also feeling the warmth.
I also found the most amazing lacy carcasses. I grew ground cherries this year, which are like small, sweet yellow tomatoes with little paper husks. The ground cherries themselves have long since disappeared, but they’ve left behind the shell of their husks and their seeds. They’re like the most beautiful and intricate seed pods ever, nestled in the dirt.
And in amongst these lovely, lacy shells there was some found treasure. My daughter Hannah ate it (after I washed it), and she proclaimed it delicious.
It’s far too early to proclaim the arrival of spring. The weather could easily turn on us and I could be out shoveling my walkway. But right now I’m feeling hopeful all the same. Winter will not last forever.
Wow – I can’t believe you found a carrot left over from summer – and I’m even more amazed that it was delicious
. Despite the often dreary forecast, you gotta love the BC climate.
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The ground cherry husks are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I’ll got to get some for my own garden–although right now, up here at latitude 53, gardening is still just a distant dream this time of year. I’m so jealous of your weather.
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That’s the most beautiful seed pod I’ve ever seen. And your hydrangea has already new leaves … are you sure you live in Canada? I pictured moose and snow there! I’ll have to check Vancouver’s latitude!
wow!
I love these photo-journal entries!
Those seed pods are beautiful. No wonder people believe in faeries. I’m so sad I can’t take my garden with me when I move
I’ve seen a few of the bulbs I planted in Sept start to shoot up. It makes me very hopeful that I will have a lovely colorful Spring garden. It’s my first attempt at planting bulbs so I’m curious to see some results!
*Sigh* Your pictures are wonderful – they remind me that Spring is, actually, just a few months away, though *my* garden is still deeply buried under ice and snow.
Don’t you wish you could curl up inside that delicate pod? It seems like something magical, indeed.
I can’t believe you ate a carrot! Doesn’t bode well for the Olympics though.
we had those ground cherries at our csa farm this year and chickpea just LOVED them. we actually never even got one home. she half of them while i was picking them in the fields and the other half on the drive home.
beautiful pics!
I don’t know if Vancouver can really, properly be called Canada at this time of the year
.
I sort of feel bound to object to comparing ground cherries to tomatoes since I love the first and quite dislike the second. The carcasses are beautiful, though. Reminds me of my husband’s uncle’s wife who collects cicada carcasses (and also lives in Vancouver. Hmmm.)
Wow, do you know the weather is very similar here outside of D.C.? Bits of snow cover the ground while the earth itself is quite squishy and muddy just calling out for spring. Just today I noticed how my wild strawberries are that fresh lime green . . . I’m hoping that my pansies will peek back up, but like you, I can see winter turning on us at any second.
I really don’t like the way ground cherries taste but I’d grow them for their beautiful seed pods alone. And what a lucky find for Hannah! I remember when I was little finding forgotten veggies in my grandparent’s garden. You’re growing good memories over there!
Love those pictures!
I looked out the window today and could have sworn that my spinach was growing again. Our snow just melted!!
I cannot wait for spring.
Pretty! It’s been pouring rain here. So far our backyard has not floated away.
I’ve had those ground cherries on my plate in restaurants occasionally but I was never sure what they were. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to eat one even. I’ll make sure to try one out next time I see one. Their husks look lovely.
the ground cherry pods are gorgeous. the remind me what my japannese lanterns look like in the spring after a long winter under snow.
Oh my gosh, those are lovely. I am wishing I was in Vancouver at the moment. This is the part of winter here in Michigan where I start getting antsy and wanting it to be over…and there is still a good two months left.