In the valley mother nature's fleeting artistry vanishes in the blink of an eye as the sun rises
Here on the hilltop Jack frost will soon be banished from our garden as the sun creeps in
and the snowdrops acknowledge her arrival with a nod
What's not to love on a day like this, a day that makes my heart sing.
But why do I find January and February difficult months?
I know I'm not alone
I want to embrace and appreciate this winter journey and see it's better side - renewal taking place in the garden, longer brighter days, cosy fireside evenings, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in my favourite mug,
I think I'm beginning to enjoy it more already.
Beautiful photographs - We are having our month of winter too now but it isn't as photogenic as your surroundings.
ReplyDeleteBut I bet it is much warmer with you
DeleteThose picture are just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have always thought that February was the six months between January and March.
Thank you Catherine - many people find February a difficult month. Perhaps we expect too much too soon.
DeleteThat first one is very beautiful, there are still a lot of flowers in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThe garden seems to have hardly rested this winter.
DeleteSome lovely winter photos and one brave Mermaid!
ReplyDeleteMy poor little Mermaid - she braves it all
DeleteI was out this morning taking some frosty photos, but not as gorgeous as these! January and February seem to go on for ever. I love winter but only in small doses...
ReplyDeleteI don't want to wish my time away, but it doesn't stop me looking forward to better, warmer, weather.
DeleteHello Rosemary, Your garden and surrounding areas are beautiful in any weather. The reports from Ohio are that it is a Winter Wonderland over there, but here in Taipei it is cold and rainy.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - cold and rainy I do not like, and we have had our fair share of it. I can cope with this bright sunny winter weather, in fact it can be very beautiful. The snow in much of the country here has passed us by so far.
DeleteI can 'feel' the cold in those beautiful but frosty photos. I do not like winter and always look forward to Spring once mid-winter is passed. However, no such winter weather here! It is the middle of summer and quite humid right now. I love the close up photos of the pretty pink flowers. Is the second a japonica?
ReplyDeleteIn the sunshine it was really quite warm, but it is lovely to anticipate the coming spring. You are right, the second photo is japonica.
DeleteWise words and beautiful photos Rosemary, both very much appreciated. Like you I struggle in the winter months but I usually find November and December the worst months. The beautiful cold and frosty weather yesterday certainly lightened my mood and opened my eyes again to the beauty around us which I try to appreciate daily as you saw from my latest posted photo.
ReplyDeleteWe usually head off to the sunshine in November, and December is taken up dashing around preparing for Christmas. February is the worst month for me as it offers up so much promise often not fulfilled. However, I intend to get all of the horrible jobs done in the house, top to bottom, which will leave me completely free for the rest of the year!!!
DeleteThat mermaid looks chilly!
ReplyDeleteShe does look rather blue
DeleteFor a long time I suffered from S.A.D. and got so depressed over winter - then I decided to embrace the changes that winter brings and found myself enjoying it - it seems it was all a case of mind over matter after all. Your pics are beautiful - amazing what a bit of frost can do the landscape, and a bit of sunshine to of course.
ReplyDeleteIt's the sunshine that does it for me Elaine - if its shinning overhead then I am a happy girl.
DeleteWhen the sun comes out it's hard not to feel one's spirits rise. The long, grey and damp days make January and February difficult here on the coast. One ray of sunshine on a witch hazel or hellebore, and I am uplifted, though.
ReplyDeleteThe mermaid in your garden is a beauty. We brought our stone mermaid with us from Pondside, and she is a little land-locked at the moment. I will have to build her a pond, or a pond-like flower bed!
We only have a small round pond but she is its guardian - we think that she helps protect our fish from the overhead patrolling stork.
DeleteWhat a difference a sunny day makes to us.
Our pond predators here are herons and raccoons. Some people resort to putting netting over the surface of the pond. We'll see how bad the problem is in our new location before we take measures.
DeleteMy apologies I should have written heron not stork♡
DeleteSuch a great selection of photo's here.
ReplyDeleteIt has been rather cold here in the UK but when it's cold, frosty and sunny you just can't beat a good walk outside ... provided you wrap up warmly of course!
All the best Jan
Getting out of doors when the sun is shinning in the wintertime is so lovely. You realise just how much is already peeping through in the hedgerows and the gardens.
DeleteDear Rosemary, I just want to scoop up and hold in my arms your precious clump of snowdrops. Your beautiful photographs give me hope that Spring will come again, albeit for me, not for many more weeks.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - I think perhaps your savour is that you have very bright weather during winter. I might be wrong but that is my impression.
DeleteThe snowdrops are very early. We have several famous snowdrop gardens nearby and they have already opened their gates to visitors.
Our summers are so hot and humid that I've learned to enjoy our winters instead.
ReplyDeleteYour winters sound perfect.
DeleteBeautiful images and yes you certainly do seem to be on the right path to enjoying these winter months..well done.
ReplyDeleteThe sun makes the big difference for me Suzie.
DeleteYour garden and this picturesque landscape of the Cotswolds are more than inspiring. I do love winter so much, perhaps because it is too short and mild in my little place of the world. It is this mystic aspect of the season which most appeals to my mind, which is also so evident in your photos.The bareness of those woods just steals into my heart. You have only to surrender dearest Rosemary...
ReplyDeleteOlympia
Dear Olympia - I looked at a post I did of some woods I visited last October when the trees were still fully clad and I agree with you - it is a mystic aspect the way that these bare skeletal trees will re-emerge again very soon dressed all in green.
DeleteI am learning to surrender Olympia♡
Beautiful snow drops! We are firmly frozen in winter's grip. The Mother of all winter storms is due to hit the entire Eastern seaboard tomorrow but the sun is shining today.
ReplyDeleteKeep cosy Linda - I don't mind snow just so long as the sunshines then I am happy.
DeleteSo beautiful photos as usually. I love all of them.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice winter time.
I appreciate your kind comment Orvokki♡
DeleteSuch beautiful pictures, especially the snowdrops. I hope that the times that you don't enjoy will soon be past and then you will get back to enjoying things again. xx
ReplyDeleteIf the sun shines Amy then everything in the garden is rosy.
DeleteYou certainly paint a beautiful picture of this time of the year that so many struggle with. They say it is the lack of light. maybe so, I personally think our moods have seasons...and the majority have trouble this season.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to beat the snow flying out of the east Coast of the U.S.A. tomorrow. I have had a wonderful time...But time to of home.Janey
It seems that most struggle at this time of year but when the sun shines it raises our spirits.
DeleteI heard that heavy snow is heading towards the East Coast Janey - safe travels.
Heart singing indeed. I felt the same when we went for a walk in the woods. I think the gold and silver of the top picture is particularly lovely.
ReplyDeleteDear Jenny - that was a fortuitous shot taken whilst I was still inside the car. The road is very narrow and I didn't want to hang around in case another car came up behind me.
DeleteWhat a stunning image of frost in the first picture, and I so like your little mermaid sitting there in her frosty garden. I have never seen snowdrops, and they look quite perfect and magical in the cold setting. I have always found January a bit difficult, although at opposites in climate. Post-Christmas, hot weather, everything 'usual' is closed while Australia goes to the beach. Back to normal next week :)
ReplyDeleteThere are actually 2000 different snowdrop cultivars Patricia, and some of the rarer ones can sell for over £350 per bulb. Surprisingly they are not native to the UK although they flourish here widely and live in everyones garden. Originally they came from Turkey like the tulip did too.
DeleteOh that gorgeous mermaid - is she really in YOUR garden Rosemary? Beautiful photos, the snowdrops are awesome and the boxwoods so healthy. Everywhere has been touched by Nature's brushes and paints.
ReplyDeleteWell it's due to arrive here around 1 AM - just a few hours - our first real touch of winter. Possibility of a huge storm with snow, ice, freezing rain - the whole kit and caboodle all in one fell swoop! We're prepared to hunker down with food, drink, firewood - and hopefully power, although they tell us there might be massive electric outages if a lot of ice.
Fingers crossed!
Hugs - Mary
The mermaid is the guardian of our fishes and frogs Mary - she used to have water running down her shell into the pond but sadly the water pipe broke.
DeleteI had heard from other bloggers that a big storm was heading in your direction. Keep safe Mary, stay warm and cosy♡
Oh my, that is one corker of a frost :)
ReplyDeleteI often try to fight winter but it's no use, have to embrace it when we are at home. It's quite a lovely season really.
This hoar frost is lovely, it is quite soft and fleeting, and looks rather like velvet.
DeleteSuch beautiful winter pics, there is just something fascinating about frost on the plants . I enjoy seeing how Spring approaches observing the flowering of snowdrops and Crocus...and soon it will be the moment of Forsythia :-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching springs arrival - each new leave and flower, but all of a sudden everything happens so quickly that you can no longer keep track of it all.
DeleteHello Dear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteHow I agree with you.. Its my first year, that I am enjoying winter. I told myself last year, that 2016 I would enjoy all that winter has to offer. Its just that I am doing.
Your photos are so beautiful.. winter is also a lovely month.. for me here, the summers are so so hot.
Enjoy sitting by the fire and sipping on hot cocoa and catching up on unfinished things..
best wishes
Val xx
Dear Val - it is so lovely to see you here again, you have been greatly missed. I do hope that all is well with you now, and that your arm is fully recovered.
DeleteThank you Rosemary,
DeleteMy back and my arm, are very much recovered. I can do more now. xx
♡
DeleteBeautiful, Rosemary! You are right: the months are slow, though when the sun shines: quite nice.
ReplyDeleteThe Chaenomeles cathayensis, Chinese flowering quince, is shivering from the cold on my balcony (already fat buds - but minus 13°C - hope it gets through). Today I cut back the one vine stock I have - last year it didn't yield fruit.
Dear Britta - we have been informed that a mild weather front is arriving here tomorrow, but as you know the weathermen often get it wrong. Hope that this year your vine will fruit for you.
DeleteThose are so beautiful and I did enjoy looking at them especially as we have experienced that this year. I love your mermaid too, she would have been home here with the river over flowing! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI had heard nothing at all about your river over-flowing Sarah, but just had a look on Google. It has not been on our news. I think that you live high up so hopefully you are alright.
DeleteWe're expecting a meter of snow tonight and tomorrow so our snowdrops will look very different from yours. But I like the break in gardening that comes during the winter. It gives me a chance to focus on other areas that I tend to ignore a bit when it's warm. Love the pic of the mermaid! :o)
ReplyDeleteSeveral bloggers have mentioned to me about the dreadful storm heading towards your east coast. Hopefully the weathermen have exagerated to severity and that you will all be safe and warm.
DeleteOur mermaid is getting quite old now and but we enjoy having her beside the pool.
It can be beautiful the frost.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
This hoar frost was fleeting but lovely whilst it lasted
DeleteBeautiful, just beautiful. It does help when the sun peeps through though doesnt it ! x
ReplyDeleteIt lifts our spirits♡
DeleteAll of your photos and words show the details which spark joys in the cold months. The ephemeral pearly frost in the morning is so special to an early riser in winter. You really know well how to enjoy winter, Rosemary. I prefer wintry weather to unusual warm winter but now we are enveloped in the intense cold wave once in decades. I’d like weather not to go to extremes.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - hoar frost and sunshine are the most beautiful of combinations and lift the spirits.
DeleteThe weather systems today have definitely changed - you are experiencing a once in a decade intense cold and so is the east coast of the States. The weather patterns across our world are very unusual today - it makes me fear for our young people.
YES, do enjoy it as much as you can. You really do live in such a beautiful place. What an enchanting garden, for one! Warm beverage in hand always helps too, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved here several years ago, I felt as if I was on holiday every day, but the beauty of the valleys, the stone walls, and vernacular architecture still attract especially in the sun.
Delete