April Fools' Day 2011

Well, it was an April Fool in two ways:  who would expect a nor'easter in April? --and-- it was not anything like it was predicted to be!  You can see the scattering of snow on the ground, not inches of the white stuff.  The bird bath did fill with water from the overnight rain.  This photograph is similar to the masthead photograph at the top of this garden blog--in location only.  The bird bath reflects an overcast sky and is filled with something that looks like melting ice cubes.  The tulips that poked their leaves out last week when it was 70 degrees are shivering with the slushy-like coating of snow today. The Heuchera "Green Spice" and "Midnight Rose" (or coral bells) around the bird bath have had their haircuts but wait for warmer days and some sunshine to begin to develop their new spring styles.  The Korean Azalea "Pink Discovery" looks like it didn't make it through the winter, but it plays pitiful each year--and then surprises me later with a burst of color in mid-May.  The birds were noisy this morning when I pulled up the hood on my sweatshirt and pushed my feet into my green garden clogs to go outside to take this photograph.  Were they laughing and singing at the April fool?