As the temperature climbed to sixty degrees on this sunny mid-December afternoon, bees swarmed (at least for the season) freeze ruined flowers of camellias and bright yellow mahonia blooms. I presume their foraging began several degrees colder, with the brilliant sunshine being the additional ingredient that brings them from their winter shelter.

Another reason to praise these winter blooms, and of course, I am also thankful for the mild temperature and warming sun. Today was an opportunity to plant pots set aside until construction of the sunroom was completed, so now a large part of the planting is done. Now, I am even more anxious for spring to see how bulbs planted a week ago fill the space with early color and to see how the area begins to fill in its first spring’s growth.