Thanks for the pics of warmer climes.
But I can not run away as my granddaughter is about to be born next week.
I just can not miss that event!

Aww...a new bundle of joy! That is really exciting!!

Keep us posted on the arrival of your grandchild, Caroline! In the meantime, journey in your imagination. Here's an orchid on display in the botanical garden at Gardone Riviera on the shores of Lake Garda.

June, it's great to see something to make me think warm this morning. It's 22 below actual temp here this morning. Brrrrrrr. Caroline, how fun, Grandchildren are definitely the joy of life!

How about some very tall dahlias? These are at the Villa Taranto botanical garden, on the shore of Lake Maggiore. The garden was created in the 1930's by a Scot, Captain Neil McEachern, who collected plants and seeds for it from all over the world, and he gifted it to the Italian state in the early 1950's. The Italian gardeners keep the place immaculate - at first glance I thought the grass was artificial, it was so perfect - and they certainly know how to grow dahlias to great heights.

Frigid here too @ -20f, clear skies.

Here are some more flowers to give you thoughts of warmth. These are at the Isola Madre garden, on Lake Maggiore.

CarolineScott said:Yesterday, I was out planting bulbs.
Today, we have a substantial snow event.

It has been a double whammy this year, once a month ago and a second time a day ago.

The weather this year has been above or below normal 23 out of 24 days so I wonder what is coming.
Do not mind frigid cold but I want snow on the ground to keep frost from going deep.

Well I think I'm adjusted to the winter now. Doing a 12 mile walk down to and along the Bow River every couple days to feed birds. I'm not huffing and puffing anymore climbing that hill out of Bridgeland. lol

Good for you j52, I have enjoyed your photos of feeding the birds on other threads.

Three days ago I got a shipment of tulip bulbs. The ground was frozen, but I had some spots covered with leaves that the frost wasn't so deep that I couldn't drill through with my bulb auger. They've been playing hockey on the lake across the street, so it must be pretty cold at night. Snow is mostly gone except in the shade.

Let us know in spring how well they come up.
I received my first garden catalog for 2021 yesterday; the Seed Savers Exchange catalog came.
A bit underwhelmed by what is available, lot same stuff different pile, but they did not cut the budget on printing quality.

Well, as the thread title says, it has, yet, here any way, we need several feet more but it is nice to have a white Christmas.

Godspeed and a very Joyous Merry Christmas to all you in the Great White North.

Merry Christmas to you too, RpR, we have a very white Christmas here, we got 9 inches the other day.

Probably blew snow for the last time this winter season, not that I have done very often either way.
We had approx. 4 inches of heavier snow with the below freezing continuous temps. for today and tomorrow, even with the longer days, it will be around till the supposed 50s come.
We still had 50 percent snow cover before this but I have an affection for waking up to see the snow while and clean vs. dirty crap most of March will be.
If I were home alone, I would have put on Christmas music.

Another covering of fresh snow last night, about 1 inch.
Beautiful bright and clean outside.
I actually do not look forward to it melting and showing the ugliness underneath.

Lousy daylight savings time is coming, before it is even spring, yeaaach.
St. Paddies is coming, , so I go to a Irish pub and drink good beer.

Easter is getting closer as is days to work in the garden.

Just a coating of snow on roof tops here.
Getting trays ready to start Dianthus under lights.

I was expecting to spend a day shoveling snow, glad that didn't happen. I've been putting my Pelargoniums out in the greenhouse during the days. Begonia seed I started in Jan, Petunia and Alyssum seed has germinated.

I started begonia seed on Nov 11 and some are throwing flower buds already.
Have calibrachoa, impatiens,and petunias on the go now.
New for me is Goji and Restharrow. Poor germination on the Restharrow.....only three good sprouts.
Blue flowers started are Laurentia, Salpigilossis Kew Blue, Nolana and ? Lobelia.
The Lobelia is probably mostly red or white as the blue seeds were old and appeared crushed.
Doing a bunch of Dianthus.......Telstar hybrids, Ideal Violet, San Francisco mix of sweet William, Red Cherry sweet Williams and Dianthus plumerius.
Peppers have been sown. Starting Blue Poppies today.
Then tomatoes on the weekend maybe. I think that will be it?
Oh did start rest of pkg of Kalettes.

Do you mean Goki berries?
I have pondered on those for a long time.