Wednesday 17 February 2010

Snowdrops


It seems that nearly everyone in the Northern Hemisphere
has had too much snow this winter
(except, perhaps, Vancouver).
In England,
February is a tug-of-war
between winter and spring.
All week long, we've had shafts of sunlight
playing peek-a-boo
with volleys of hail,
and flurries of snow,
and sheets of sleet.


Never mind the frigid temperatures,
spring will eventually get the upper hand.
Snow-like they may be,
but these galanthus
are the first bulbs out of the starting gate.
Autumn leaves,
it's your turn to sink into the earth.


So soon now, the gray of winter


will be replaced by spring green.


February is a pointillist painter,
adding a swathe of yellow aconites
to winter's monochrome palette.


Not the showiest flower,
it's true,
but so refreshing.

36 comments:

CashmereLibrarian said...

Lovely that you will soon see signs of spring! It'll be another month or so before we'll see the crocuses...

Reya Mellicker said...

Your landscape is much more lively than ours at the moment. Rain is falling on the snow mountains this afternoon though so i expect they will soon be leveled.

And then the bulb flowers. Yes!!

ArtSparker said...

I think I saw one on a Polish blog earlier.

Sarah said...

Yeah, sorry about hogging all the spring right now :)

marja-leena said...

Oh, I love the grand swathes of those snowdrops and aconites. And, sorry to keep bragging about our early spring. I'm dreading the return of rain after being spoiled by so much sunshine lately.

Sarah Laurence said...

I read that last week every state but Hawaii had some snow cover. Thanks for sharing your snowdrops and your artsy verse. It was fun to see the image in black and white and then in color. Our spring comes in mud brown. I hope you had a good vacation with all the snow you wanted.

Cláudia said...

I have lived in England and can perfectly understand what you mean by:

"February is a pointillist painter."

I am so glad I can revive my experience in Essex with your words and images! You do magic! Thank you!

herhimnbryn said...

Oh Bee, Thankyou for these gorgeous images. I miss the white and wellow of an english spring. However, we will be in the UK in May so I am hoping for some walks in Bluebell woods.

I remember CS Lewis' description of Feb. He called it '...the waiting room of the year.'

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Refreshing they most certainly are. I do wish I had them here. I was in London a couple of Spring's ago for my birthday.... greeted warmly by the miles of daffodils in St. James Park. A truly amazing sight! They should be popping up soon!

Alyson | New England Living said...

I love seeing the first signs of spring! Actually, I love seeing the first sign of every coming season. Each brings its own excitement and change.

Our first buds will probably come in a couple of weeks, and along with them my seasonal allergies. Oh well, it's worth it.

Wonderful photographs!

Relyn Lawson said...

All around us, too much snow. Here in Southwest Missouri - just enough. Now it's getting warmer. Yes.

Fantastic Forrest said...

Bee, this may be one of your best posts ever. So poetic!

You're right that Vancouver hasn't had too much snow - nor has Portland. We're surrounded by green and lovely flowers. No matter how long I live her, I will never stop marveling at it after growing up in winter-weary Chicago. It's like a tropical paradise in comparison!

Not From Lapland said...

wonderful, this post gives me so much hope that spring will come. Eventually. for us is doesn't arrive until May but it is so cheering to see these first signs and remember what it all looks like. I'd almost forgotten that grass was green and not white.

Anne said...

Welcome home, Bee! I'm so glad there are some cheery snowdrops to welcome you back.

We've had such a short winter that even the poppies are starting to bloom. I'm probably the only one in the northern hemisphere wishing for more winter, more rain, more cold. Here's hoping the jet stream takes some of our warm, spring-like weather and carries it your way. (Maybe you could send some snow back?)

Sueann said...

All I see is snow and mud and more snow! So seeing your snowdrops brought a huge smile to my face! Thank you ever so much!
Hugs
SueAnn

Beth said...

On Sunday I remarked, “It’s like spring.” On Monday we finally got the sort of snowfall that’s been absent this past winter. Darn.
Still, not too long now before the flowers of spring will emerge here – and our spirits will blossom, too.
Lovely, lovely photos.

TBM said...

Oh that is so funny, you really did have snowdrops on your mind too! But I think yours are further along?

I cannot wait until Spring!!!!

XO

Shaista said...

Bee, where are these snowdrops?! Only a tiny brave smattering of them in Cambridge... snow again today, our garden looks a little worn out, a little bleak.. spring will be sweet this year...

Amanda said...

Oh lucky! It is pouring rain here today (at least not snow) although there is still a ton of snow left on the ground. We are so far from Spring. I love your photos!

Merisi said...

Yes, these are true messengers of spring, thank you!

Not knowing where to look for snowdrops around here made me realize that I do miss my home, er former home, where I knew those places.

Bee said...

The snowdrops (Shaista asked) are at a nearby stately home called Welford Park. They have a very distinguished collection -- certainly the most extensive I know of in these parts.

Alyson, I totally agree that the turn of each season is exciting . . . but for me, nothing compares to spring.

Kelly H-Y said...

"First bulb out of the starting gate..." ... love it! Gorgeous photos and words.

Gretel said...

They may be small and white, but they are the most welcome flower I think.

David Cranmer said...

Those are some absolutely gorgeous pics.

skirmishofwit said...

Beautiful! I love the vast spread of snowdrops.

Kristen In London said...

Bee, you've inspired me to take a photo or two of the daffodils coming in profusion in the green by Avery's school! These are simply beautiful images. Hard to believe any flower is brave enough to appear in this awful grey landscape...

Marcheline said...

Egads, I've never seen that many snowdrops in one place at one time... heavenly!!!

Tracy Golightly-Garcia said...

The galanthus are lovely, Bee! I am ready for spring--the cold and rain has gone on far to long in Greenville. Just two weeks ago we had snow-but it was gone the next day.

I am ready to see the green grass, flowers and hear the birds sing. It will not be to much longer (I hope).

Best
Tracy :)

Anonymous said...

So lovely! It reminds me of how much earlier spring came when I lived in London.

myonlyphoto said...

Bee I will send you a postage so you can send some here, lol. Wow so so many. Thanks for sharing. We got snowed in, but nothing like being covered by snowdrops. Anna :)

Anonymous said...

Dear Bee
I'm totally green with envy.
You must realise what we have been going through here.
Spoe to a friend in Wiltshire this mornig
crocuses, pussy willow etc etc
and all we get here is a blizzard.........(sigh)

Maggie May said...

i love the images in this post. your posts always make me feel like ... life is so interesting, so full of interesting happenings.

thank you so much for your comment on my marriage post. it makes such a difference to me in how i feel about my life when i can reflect on what it has been like for other people. i really appreciate the generosity of your thoughts, and heart.

xo

julochka said...

ours have yet to surface and i would so much love to see them...snowdrops, erantis, crocus - all of them.

Delwyn said...

Hi Bee

...but so sweetly beautiful and the harbinger of warmer days...

Happy days

Nancy said...

So pretty. I love how they are all over the grass. Ahh grass... it has totally white here since before Christmas.

Mandy said...

Gosh this is a gorgeous post! I am really enjoying this slow spring!