Monday, January 14, 2008

Winter Sunset

The two photos below were taken in our neighborhood, on an evening in early January of 2005. It was unusual, in that we don't normally have such colorful sunsets in the winter time. The beauty of the sunset was greatly enhanced by the sunlight reflecting off a layer of fog, which is quite common for our area during the winter months, as we live in a river valley.


Sunset....with pines in the foreground.





A walnut tree in our neighborhood, with sunset as a backdrop.


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I'm afraid I have woefully neglected my blog...during the busy holiday season. And I have just returned from a trip to North Dakota on Amtrak with my daughter, son-in-law, and grand-daughter to visit my 85 year old Dad who still lives there on the farm. It was quite an adventure with an almost 2 year old, but she did remarkably well on the trip, in spite of a freight train derailment which made it necessary for us to be bussed for 6 hours on the return trip, and put us 4 hours behind schedule. It is good to be home again, and I will soon start my 2008 gardening year, with the preparation of containers for Winter-sowing.

Let the growing begin! :-)


20 comments:

Catherine said...

Finally! What lovely pics, and I'm glad for the beauty of something besides white. I'm considering the winter sowing too, but need to know what to begin with. Please tell us! C.

Connie said...

Cat - I start with perennials, as many of them like and need the cold action of freezing & thawing for germination. After perennials come the hardy annuals...these I will start in February. (larkspur, bachelor buttons, calendula, poppies,etc.)
I have started several types of pansies and violas indoors already for early blooms.

Petunia's Gardener said...

Welcome home! Thanks for visiting us at P.G. I was just thinking about winter sowing so thanks for putting the word out. Those flowers looks like a good suggestion to get started. Lovely sky photos, too.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I don't usually start many seeds until February because I cant afford to heat my greenhouse. I also don't start many perennial seeds, I just don't have much room in the garden for them. Have fun planting!

Ki said...

Is it pollution from China that's causing the beautiful sunsets? Very lovely photos in any case. I was surprised that you live in the same climate zone as I do. I though Idaho was much, much colder than NJ?

Catherine said...

I've written down your instructions for my neighbor, and I'll begin the wintersow when I return from my flight to P'land to visit Isabella for her 3rd b'day this weekend. Yipeeee! And, on a clear day soon, I'd like to make a trek to visit your establishment, another yippeeeee!

Connie said...

Ki - We are in a micro-climate, with higher elevations all around us, making it at least a zone warmer than the surrounding areas. Our growing season is 3-4 weeks longer on either end, which is why I LOVE living here. :-)

Andrea's Garden said...

Welcome back and with a great photograph! I am starting my indoor seeds in Februar. Since we don't own a greenhouse and there really is no room in our garden for one, that is the best we can do. Well, as long as my husband doesn't mind the guestroom being transformed in a greenhouse, I will keep doing it this way for a while. :-) Andrea

Anonymous said...

Hey, we are having unusually nice sunrises and sets this winter. Reminds me of the 70's. Wonder what is going on.

The photos are lovely! I have been meaning to tell you that my mom was born in Cottonwood. Is that very far from you?
Sandy

Connie said...

Sandy - It is less than a half hour away from where I live...is that cool or what?

Whyite said...

Glad to see your back planning for the planting and growing of 2008. I am so ready for the winter to be over.

Shady Gardener said...

If I hang around long enough, I'll learn some very valuable information! ;-) I really want to do some early plant starts this year!

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

It's good to have you back Connie and I hope you enjoyed your trip.

Thanks for the great pics of that wonderfully colourful skies. Breath taking!

For me the sowing will commence soon too.

Miranda Bell said...

Sounds like you had a good trip - Happy New Year! I know we won't be starting to sow seeds till next month as we could well end up with more cold weather... having said that it's not uncommon to have snow here in March... Welcome back!
Miranda

kate said...

You were really close to me - it must have been wonderful visiting with your dad. It sounds like everyone travelled well too!

Your photographs are beautiful.

I hope the wintersowing project goes great!

Naturegirl said...

Gorgeous sunsets! God bless your 85 yr. old father for still living on his farm. Many of our parents are not as fortunate and now living in assisted living. Blessings to your dad! Love your photos!

Beth said...

Hello Connie: Happy New Year! Sure how you had a nice time in North Dakota. We've had a terrible cold stretch lately. I hope you missed out on that.

Read your winter sowing with interest. Not sure if I have the patience for that or the time or space. I'll have to read up on it more.

Slowly trying to get into the blog thing again ....

Marie said...

Beautiful winter sunset.

Kylee Baumle said...

Gorgeous photos! And welcome back!

Randy said...

Wonderful pictures! Its okay about the neglect, it's hard to find things to post and write about this time of year. I think everyone understands that. I hope you had great holidays!