How is everyone doing today?  I hope you all had a great Christmas and 2016 will prove to be Happy and a Healthy one.  First of all, I realized that while I was perusing through my posts in January last year, I accidentally clicked on the post “Preparing for the Gardening Season” (http://findleberry.com/preparing for the gardening season).   This post comes a little too early in our region as pointed out by my friend who is unable to get to her garden shed right now.   However, for those of you who live in areas with milder temperatures, this may be of use to you.

When we are still knee deep in snow, it is sometimes difficult for me to come up with gardening inspirations.  Having said that though, this time of the year does give me an opportunity to determine what direction I am taking this year.  I do enjoy writing my blog and intend to continue on, but at the same time as mentioned in earlier posts, I have developed a keen interest in photography, in particular botanical and landscape.

This year I am fortunate to be able to participate in at least three wedding shoots and maybe more.  I will be focusing on the detailed settings, i.e. flower arrangements to the scenery and landscape.  While my daughter will concentrate more on the happy couple and guests.  We have found this to be a good combination.   

Here are a couple of photos from a wedding I was involved in last year which not only captures the wedding couple but also takes in the surroundings, i.e. the tall grasses.    The lighting was just perfect when the photo was taken.

I am looking forward to the snow melting and seeing life in the garden again although I know I need to be patient as we definitely have a number of weeks to go.  One of the first things I will be looking out for is the Witch Hazel in flower.   My white helleborus will bloom around the same time and the winter heathers will be coming into bloom.  I have found though the heathers have not done too well here in the Okanagan which is surprising as they do survive on the moors in England.  

For now though I will have to make do with getting pleasure from the spring colours in the potted bulbs inside the house.