Spring-like Day & Blooms

The side view of Crocus angustifolius ‘Cloth of Gold.’ As you can see, it has purple stripes!

We lucked out on this first day of February with a not very winter-like day. I went for a walk to see what was in bloom. Not only were there blooms, but there were plenty of honeybees too. That didn’t surprise me as much as the fact that I got warm on my walk even though I had no jacket  and that there was still plenty of snow on the ground in shady areas, despite the spring-like temperatures of 69 degrees.

The spring-like day, though unusual for February, brought out plenty of visitors and plenty of pollinators. I heard the patter of children’s feet flying down the Main Garden Path, I saw a couple sitting on a bench in the Cochrane Rose Garden, and I saw a few lucky grandchildren with their grandparents.  It was such a beautiful day to be outside.

Here are a few of my favorite images from today. See if you can find the ant!

The bees were happy to get out and about on this spring-like day. Pictured is a honeybee and stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus).

Early spring blooms like this crocus can bloom on warm winter days and the honeybees flock to them collecting pollen. This one is called Crocus angustifolius ‘Cloth of Gold.’

A honey bee and a stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus).

Even ants are attracted to crocus!