spring is bubbling

i have been reflecting on last year's garden while i wait in anticipation of this year's garden. but this year's garden is here! the crocus snow bunting have been in bloom since late january, and the iris reticulata pixie shortly after that. before i started gardening, i thought that the colorado winter lasted forever, and i mourned those five long months between november and april. now, thanks to the ever steady purple pixie and the voluptuously prolific snow bunting, winter seems short, even insignificant. my neighbors think that my garden was tricked by a few days of unseasoningly warm weather last month, but my plants are not easily fooled. these pictures were taken today in the boulder foothills, february 18th, 2009