Seeds!
Well, it is January and way too cold to wander around with my camera so I will share some spring pictures from last year and dream about when I can get outside and start the spring stuff in my garden. It might be 3 months and that’s about as much time as I can tolerate, especially while listening to the plows clearing the streets.
I was in Lowes the other day parusing reduced Christmas decorations and there~ like light at the end of the tunnel~ I saw them. SEEDS! Needless to say I quickly abandoned the winter clearance department to take it in. Those shiny packages with the pictures of vegetables and flowers gleamed in the sunshine…okay so it wasn’t sunshine, it was light that was trying to find it’s way through a very overcast sky into the windowed roof above the seasonal department. 
I didn’t buy any, I hadn’t planned yet! I’m not ready!…. So I just admired the display. It looked like just the beginning of what will be the springtime products. As I comtemplated these lovely morsels of life~ I realized it wasn’t the same feeling you get when you see those first Christmas decorations in October, which we all think is way tooo soon. The stores drag it on and on so that by time December arrives we are sick of all the decorations they offer. 
No, I welcomed the early anticipation of spring by this store. I commend them for knowing that we need this hope that fair weather will once again return.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the winter and the snow this time of year, it’s just that I know that when it is mid February I will be itching to get outside and play in the dirt while breathing in warm fresh air and listening to birds chirp. Seeds will bridge that gap until spring is here. They will get me through. 
So I left there not with Christmas decorations to store away until next year, but with spring in my mind and gardening in my heart. 
~Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson
Visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and see what others have going on outside and maybe there will be photos from places that are warm that have gardening going on.
January 2nd, 2010 at: 12:48 am
I think most gardeners are looking forward to spring as soon as Christmas ends. Your photos are beautiful and I look forward to seeing your garden this coming year.
January 5th, 2010 at: 10:55 pm
I love the Larson quote. The spring photos are wonderful – One of the things I like best about this time of year is all the garden catalogs that come in. I always dream big, and maybe some of it will happen!
January 6th, 2010 at: 12:17 am
Beautiful tulips, especially the second one with curly petals! And a little ant is a bonus!
I am still laughing over your previous photo with the doggy and giraffe. My favorite!
…I am berried!
January 6th, 2010 at: 12:25 am
Hi Teresa! Thanks for stopping by. I am not really worried as to what they are building because we only see just a little bit of it in the winter. All we see are trees and leaves during the other 3 seasons because they get pretty dense. Just like you, I cannot wait till spring. I want lots of colorful flowers inthe garden. Your flower pictures are gorgeous!…Christine
January 6th, 2010 at: 12:33 am
Oh, these are lovely! I am ready for spring to come. We Floridians don’t do well with cold weather, and it is going to be cold this entire week. I’m ready for spring to come next week! LOL!
Happy Outdoor Wednesday to you…
XO,
Sheila
January 6th, 2010 at: 1:00 am
You have an amazing garden and take fabulous photos. I so enjoyed my visit to your spring garden! ~ Sarah
January 6th, 2010 at: 1:19 am
One of my favorite season, Spring! The blooms are so special and they look so fresh!
January 6th, 2010 at: 1:28 am
Your post reminded me that I have bulbs sitting out that I forgot to plant. Here I usually plant them in the fall. Yipes.
Lovely photograpy.
Kathy b
January 6th, 2010 at: 6:23 am
Pretty….that macro shot of the ant is absolutely amazing. And believe it or not…here in south Texas, I have ONE lone iris getting ready to bloom…in the dead of winter.
Come on over to see C shells!! For WEDNESDAY
January 6th, 2010 at: 8:25 am
I am ready for Spring also. Once Christmas is over…I’m itching to get gardening and enjoying the warm weather. I’ll be waiting awhile…
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
January 6th, 2010 at: 10:39 am
After Christmas, it should be immediately Spring. I vote for forgetting Winter altogether! Thanks for sharing. Happy OW.
January 6th, 2010 at: 11:36 am
amazing close up shots of the flowers
beautiful! the one with the ant is especially interesting.
leethroughthelens.blogspot.com
January 6th, 2010 at: 4:01 pm
Nice reminder that spring is coming. LOL I was just thinking today there are only 25 more days in January. Hahaha!
Beautiful spring photos!
January 6th, 2010 at: 5:53 pm
What gorgeous photos. The one with the ant is extraordinary. Have a great Outdoor Wednesday.
January 6th, 2010 at: 8:05 pm
how pretty the flowers are cant wait til spring when the flowers in my yard will be up so thanks for bringing a little bit of spring into my wintery existance