![bellflower](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-JSjV5L5/0/M/DLA115995-M.jpg)
Emotionally surviving and thriving this last winter was more difficult, in some ways, and easier in others. I typically fight off depression during the winter months when I am unable to get enough sunshine to prevent my mood and outlook from spiraling into darkness.
The Lizard landed a new job last autumn, and he works almost every weekend now. Which means I was on my own during the weekends. I did a lot of quilting, and that helped. I tried to get outside as much as I could both at work and on weekends. And as always, I tried to enjoy what time I did have with my beloved husband.
One of the tools I used this time around came in the form of a bag of hyacinth bulbs.
![cure for the winter blues](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-kMXSZFm/0/M/DLA1169841-M.jpg)
These blue babies helped me beat the winter blues by painting my inside world the most beautiful hues during the darkest times of the year. I "planted" at least three each month in water vases I saved from past birthdays when my sweetheart gave me flowering bulbs as gifts. We keep blankets over the heat-leaking windows during the coldest weeks, so we use two daylight lamps to provide "sunshine" for my indoor garden.
![a hyacinth vase](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-pjwhBFK/0/M/DLA1169840-M.jpg)
All winter long, I had at least three flowers blooming!
![three at a time](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-cXk3Gtn/0/M/DLA1169854-M.jpg)
I tried the bulbs-in-water experiment with grape hyacinths and daffodils, too. The grape hyacinth in soil mostly are showing greenery; the one I tried in the water vase disintegrated, I suppose feeding the hyacinth and daffodil along side it. The daffodils haven't bloomed yet, but they haven't died, either.
In addition, I had four patio pots still blooming when the first freeze hit. I brought them inside, not knowing if they would keep going or even survive.
I was delightedly surprised to experience yet another winter of larkspur, cosmos, grape hyacinth, amaryllis, Christmas cacti and, for the first time, love in a mist and campanula! Yes, after a few weeks of dormancy, the love in a mist and bellflowers began blooming again! The daffodils have been stubborn, but they are finally coming along.
![daffodils](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-55rL4t3/0/M/DLA1169843-M.jpg)
I'll be dreaming of another Blue Winter come September!
![hyacinth](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-NvZzcfg/0/M/DLA1169859-M.jpg)
![hyacinth](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-gwtNzC9/0/M/DLA1169927-M.jpg)
![grape hyacinth](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-kcRs9Hk/0/M/DLA1169849-M.jpg)
![grape hyacinth](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-GH4MJgM/0/M/DLA1169882-M.jpg)
![love in a mist](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-LGCWknL/0/M/DLA116007-M.jpg)
![love in a mist](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-5pfmts8/0/M/DLA116297-M.jpg)
![larkspur](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-3WhH78G/0/M/DLA1170036-M.jpg)
![larkspur](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-q67rDMQ/0/M/DLA1170035-M.jpg)
![hyacinth](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-ZffPX6f/0/M/DLA1169835-M.jpg)
![many larkspur](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-NvDr3Zv/0/M/DLA116664-M.jpg)
![campanula](https://photos.smugmug.com/Flowers/My-Garden-Threepeat/i-sFzzkrs/0/M/DLA1170025a-M.jpg)
The crappy weather sure can play with ones mind. Goes to show what you can do with a little determination and a green thumb. Ick to working almost all weekends though, but a job is a job these days.
ReplyDelete