Winter garden...

"Most people, early in November, take last looks at their gardens, and are then prepared to ignore them until the spring. I am quite sure that a garden doesn't like to be ignored like this. It doesn't like to be covered in dust sheets, as though it were an old room which you had shut up during the winter. Especially since a garden knows how gay and delightful it can be, even in the very frozen heart of the winter, if you only give it a chance."
(Beverley Nichols)
With two days of 40 degree temps, I got most of my "winter garden" chores done. All but a few small fish are spending their time swimming circles in the tank in the garage. Again this year, it looks like I lost quite a few to racoons, snakes and/or herons. Thankfully they reproduce enough that I caught lots of little ones.

The front planters and one in the back have their "winter garden" look. In this climate you have to put any Christmas decorations that require staking in the ground up before the ground freezes so I also set up candy cane lane and the bird's christmas tree. One more nice day and I'll have the rest done.
I couldn't bear to shut down the rock fountain yet, so I'll leave it running until the water starts to freeze near the pump box. After I came in, I watched this bluejay take a cold bath.






When he was finished, he gave me a good scolding for watching!
I also spotted this fox sparrow searching out a drink on the side of the pond.