I know - it's the middle of February, and it’s supposed to feel
like winter, right? But it feels like... just kidding, I have no idea
what it feels like, but definitely not like any winter I
remember :) Last Saturday morning I woke up with the strange feeling
that something interesting was waiting for me. I didn’t know what it
would be, but the feeling was there. So I drove to City Park, hoping to
find some cormorants. Unfortunately, I was disappointed, they haven’t
arrived yet. The lake was iceless, and geese were everywhere. Just
ordinary geese, not even snow geese. That was a bummer for sure.
I walked around the lake, keeping an eye on the birds swimming here and there, but didn't spot anything interesting... A couple of mallards, some shovelers and tons of geese :)
The geese domination was actually astonishing. Even the gulls
seemed to be hiding somewhere, avoiding competition with the noisy and
ever-present residents of the lake.
Just as I was about to leave, I spotted a pair of mergansers - and
that was definitely a nice encounter. I’ve always liked these small,
elegant birds. I’ll keep watching for them and hope to see them again in
April, maybe surrounded by tiny ducklings.
Since I hadn’t found anything truly special at the park, I headed
to the Denver Botanic Garden, hoping for better luck there. I started
with the Orchid Showcase (I believe it was the last weekend before they
move the flowers out of view).
Orchids are always a pleasure to admire up close, and that day was no exception.
I walked slowly, stopping here and there and snatching a photo here, an image there... another beautiful Saturday
spent admiring exotic blooms.
It was really hot inside the gallery, and at some point I knew I
needed to get out. Now. So I paused at one last flower before zipping up
my jacket and stepping outside, where the cold air brought a
much-needed sense of freshness.
And the moment I stepped out, I knew I had found what had been
promised to me when I woke up. It wasn’t anything dramatic, or was it?
Blooming flowers in open soil!
Snowdrops and winter aconites were blooming. Yes, they are among the first to appear each year… but in mid-February?
Yet there they were, as if defying nature’s schedule. Blooming. And not just a few, there were many of them.
And it wasn’t only those brave early flowers. A magnolia tree was
also preparing for its moment, buds swelling and ready to burst open. It
felt as if I had jumped ahead to late March, watching plants and trees
slowly wake up. I even pulled out my phone to check the date - just to
confirm my sanity. It was still mid-February, even though all my senses
insisted it was at least four weeks later.
What else was blooming? A few arrowwood bushes and even more aconites.
Crocuses were scattered here and there, still looking fragile and
unsure whether they truly wanted to be out yet, but beautiful
nonetheless :)
By the time I finished my walk around the garden, I was overflowing
with impressions. Whatever I had expected that morning, this was not
it. So many flowers, grasses, and plants already beginning their growth…
in mid-February.
I was delighted, especially by the snowdrops, but I also kept questioning my own sense of time as I wandered around. Now I’m curious to see what next week will bring. According to the
forecast, we may even get some snow… so who knows what to expect? What do you think?
Photos taken on February 14, 2026.
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