The weather has been been unusual the first two months of this new year. Two days of temperatures in the high 50’s in early January were followed by snow and ice. Two more days in early February in the lower 50’s were followed by 0 degrees and more snow.

Like most gardeners, we worry about warm spells in the middle of winter. Aside from the danger that plants may be heaved out of the ground by freeze and thaw cycles, there is the possibility that early flowering trees and shrubs may have their developing buds frozen and simply leaf out in the spring. A spring without magnolia blossoms is a sad prospect.

As I reviewed seasonal photos for this post, this one caught me eye. It shows the viewing tower, from the walkway in the Heritage Garden. I noticed there is a visitor perched on the staircase, and  somehow the composition looked familiar. I finally realized that it brought to mind Claude Monet’s winter painting of a magpie perched on a snowy gate, also in a mostly black and white landscape.

Visiting the park in all seasons gives you a different perspective from the glorious abundance of summer. You (or at least I have) learn to look for the annual signs that the garden is waking up. I know when the snow melts, I am likely to find fat buds of the Lenten Rose (Hellebore species) under the leaves in the Perennial Garden. Then the snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and Crocus won’t be far behind. Here is a list of early spring bulbs, with some good general information. Just remember that Columbus is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. This map lets you plug in your zip code to find more weather information specific to your home garden.