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After two days of sunshine and warmth, the cold winds and gray skies have returned. I'm trying to keep the sweet pea youngsters from getting too cold while still giving them light.

I know they don't mind cool temperatures, but surely they don't like freezing. I've been carrying them outdoors in the daytime and back in at night. This morning  I made a little tent for the containers with clear plastic to let in the light and keep out the very cold wind.

Happily, the scilla doesn't mind at all. Patience, endurance, gratitude and cheerfulness live in the garden.

bBloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

 Suddenly it's warm! The garden is joyful and beautiful. The back-yard colors inspire natural dyeing.

These silks were dyed with walnut hulls, coreopsis flowers, weld and indigo

Crocus

Violet shades from madder, lac and indigo

King Alfred Daffodils

Greens, yellow and blues from weld, coreopsis flowers and indigo

The very brave Scilla

Indigo

Warm morning sky

I'm very grateful for this rare, lovely and warm Spring day.

It's still cold here without the occasional warm days. In spite of this, the brave daffodils, tulips, scilla are holding on. Some are even blooming.

Scilla

For the first time in ages, I'm growing sweet peas. Thought they are prefer cool temperatures, I don't think they'd like to be outdoors in 20 degrees and ice.

The sun is so beautiful and srtong in March. I'm always amazed at the way the March sun shows the tiniest details. Sunrise in the plant room is a quiet joy.

I've been working with osage orange sawdust and silk thread. Here the sink is soaking in rinse water.

Here it is hanging to dry in the plant room.

The yellow color seems to deepen in the air.

Snowdrops

Daffodils

Silk, indigo and weld

Everything changes. The morning light is different now.

Determined daffodils

Tulip snouts

 Old and new

Flying north

Daisys' favorite weather!

Icicles on the neighbors' house

Seeds packets and Valentines' cards

Waiting for spring

A little snow and ice fell overnight.

Yesterday I made a path through the mud with old Christmas tree branches. The birds are making their own path of footprints.

Walnut brew left outdoors

Indigo dye project left out overnight

Sweet, furry Daisy seems to like the cool on her tummy.

Finally finished!

 I let distractions keep me way behind schedule.

  Once I finally buckled down, completing the final three was pretty easy.

They'll be early for next year.

It's so cold that I'm restricted to indoor projects. This has put a halt to most indigo dyeing since I can't air any wet textiles outside. They freeze almost instantly, and trying to unpin them from the clothesline is really hard.

Frozen hemp

Right now my outdoor dye-work is limited to hurried picture-taking.