Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Signs



In the last two or three years I've associated winter with worry and with illness - difficult things have happened during the winter months, but I think my dread of it is lifting. This year I've managed to see winter as a natural part of the year, rather than a dismal aberration. 

Despite me being able to be more accepting of winter I have still been slightly obsessive in hunting for signs of Spring. I've realised that if it were the 25th July, six months from now, and I were posting about the signs of winter it would seem odd, but finding these tiny flowers gave me a real thrill this morning.  I was surprised that the snowdrops and aconites were flowering already. 

The Splash of Colour Project has been a real boost too. Our final splash begins next Tuesday, 1st February but meanwhile I made a sidebar button out of the little aconite I found in my friend's garden - do go and take a look at the Flickr pool - it'll make you feel good.

Meanwhile thankyou so much for all your comments on my vintage seed label giveaway. The lucky winners are number 3:

Jacquie at Bunny Mummy, and number 50:

Steph at Curlew Country. 

Congratulations - a parcel of cheery is coming your way!
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33 comments:

  1. Unknown25 January 2011 at 12:27

    we seem to be on the same wavelength re: spring! can't wait for winter to bugger off! hate it with a passion akin to my hate for cloves and the dentist!! be happy, linda...

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  2. Rachel25 January 2011 at 12:35

    I'm also surprised you've found flowers so early. Now I'll be looking out for them too!

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  3. Naturally Carol25 January 2011 at 12:50

    I am so glad Steph won the seed packs as they will bring some cheer to her wintery days too! We are at last having some sunny summer days after all our rain and flooding...it's wonderful.

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  4. Jackie25 January 2011 at 13:05

    Your photographs fill me with hope. No hope of aconites in my garden though, or primroses. However I spotted the green shoots of the snowdrops yesterday thrusting bravely through the clay soil.

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  5. Tara25 January 2011 at 13:11

    We are far from seeing such signs of spring here in Canada so I really appreciate this little sneak peek of yours.

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  6. mrspao25 January 2011 at 13:18

    Lovely to see the sight of things popping up above the sleepy winter soil. It is so wet here in Kent that I am loathe to go into the garden.

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  7. inmykitchen25 January 2011 at 13:52

    I have tried really hard to beat my January glumness this year. There is such a lot of beauty in Winter. However on a drizzly grey day like today it is hard not to feel despondent. Thank you for the aconites and snowdrops.
    Jo x

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  8. Marigold Jam25 January 2011 at 14:03

    Love those photos and love too the hope that they bring - winter is a drear time for many of us I think and any little signs of sunnier days are more than welcome.

    Jane

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  9. greenrabbitdesigns25 January 2011 at 14:16

    I too have been more accepting of winter this year even though we've had the most severe one in years! I think when you blog you do tend to search for something good and certainly the SOC has helped. All that said it is good to see the beginning of spring, I love it. :)

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  10. kristina25 January 2011 at 14:41

    Oh I adore snowdrops! Must keep an eye out. Though having a hard time keeping my eyes open with the jet lag--ugh.

    K x

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  11. Pipany25 January 2011 at 15:35

    There are definitley signs out there, but you do need to search quite hard and it is easier to stay inside on a wet day like today. I have got better about winter and find my way is to think it is practicially spring as soon Christmas is over! x

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  12. Catherine25 January 2011 at 15:49

    I have snow drops but you have signs of spring in abundance! Wonderful

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  13. Calico Kate25 January 2011 at 16:03

    Oh how pretty. Ab-so-lute-ly flowerless up here so it was a treat to see yours.
    Sorry I haven't been by recently. Pleased to read that maybe winter blues are being chased away.
    CKx

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  14. Floss25 January 2011 at 16:14

    I've been searching leaves and flowers too - my hellebores will be out soon! Also a HUGE thank you - my silver bird has arrived to cheer a bleak day. I'm wearing it now and keep looking at it and touching it. I've also posted about it - thanks!

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  15. dragonfly25 January 2011 at 18:09

    I found a tiny clump of snowdrops in the garden yesterday, so far unharmed by chicken-y scavenging!
    I must look out for some aconites...

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  16. Bobo Bun25 January 2011 at 18:56

    It's the change of light I'm loving and how clean the air feels. Still blinking cold though bbbrrr. Lucky winners by the way. Great pictures as usual Emma.

    X

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  17. menopausalmusing25 January 2011 at 20:44

    Lucky winners!

    Yay for the first snowdrops trying to poke through down here too. Am desperate for jugs and jars of flowers to be dotted around the old homestead again ;O)

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  18. Teresa Kasner25 January 2011 at 20:51

    You are so lucky to have found those little flowers in bloom.. I'm in Oregon USA and have huge patches of them but not one in bloom yet. I look every day. Waiting..waiting.. thanks for sharing with me!

    Teresa

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  19. Twiggy25 January 2011 at 21:47

    I must admit I enjoy Winter but seeing the first signs of Spring is a thrill. I have a jolly little pot of tete a tete on my kitchen windowsill they are so pretty !!
    twiggy x

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  20. Su25 January 2011 at 21:52

    You're so lucky to have snowdrops in bloom, mine are quite a long way off flowering yet. It'll soon be spring and warm!

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  21. fen and ned26 January 2011 at 00:47

    Well you've cheered me up! x

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  22. Locket Pocket26 January 2011 at 12:03

    You've done well to find flowers so soon - and the photos are lovely! I saw the sun on Monday and it actually shone warmly on me! Lucy xx

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  23. Jannette26 January 2011 at 12:32

    Aconites..! So that's what they're called. Often wondered about that (but obviously not enough to find out for myself); we've got snowdrops here too, and wintersweet. In the park, on our way to school. Smells and looks just wonderful.

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  24. Julie26 January 2011 at 12:41

    A lovely hint of Spring there Emma :-) Our bulbs are poking thro' but no flowers yet. Thank you for your lovely comment on my recent photo post :-)

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  25. Bristol Parenting Cafe26 January 2011 at 15:25

    Oh I am the same - I miss the sun and warmth so much. I am looking out for spring too and saw some snowdrops other other day so happy to read your post.

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  26. The Coffee Lady26 January 2011 at 15:44

    Good grief. I haven't been out in the garden for months.

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  27. Madelief26 January 2011 at 18:27

    Oh, good to see flowers in bloom in your garden as well. I haven't seen the yellow ones before. I can't wait for more colour in my garden as well :-)!

    Congratulations to Steph. She is a lucky girl to win your beautiful giveaway!

    Lieve groet, Madelief

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  28. French Knots26 January 2011 at 18:32

    I saw a couple of snowdrops flowering when I walked to the shops this morning, but it's still blummin freezing. Roll on spring!!x

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  29. Unknown26 January 2011 at 19:04

    I've been really rubbish at finding colour this month, I think I will make it a priority to find some colour this weekend to put on your flickr page! I'm lookng forward to the spring too, still no snowdrops here though, can't wait to see them coming through! :) x

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  30. sea-blue-sky & abstracts26 January 2011 at 23:20

    Lovely mosaic Emma, I'm glad to see these signs of spring and also take heart from the lengthening of the days. Thanks for the cheering 'Splash of Colour'. Lesley x

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  31. Handmade in Israel27 January 2011 at 08:01

    Beautiful flowers! So nice to see a little colour. We all look forward to Spring!

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  32. Lace hearts27 January 2011 at 21:32

    What lovely photographs. I can't wait to see spring flowers - haven't seen anything near me yet.

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  33. Lynn30 January 2011 at 18:12

    Still very much enjoying winter here (it's plenty cold, but we have lots of sunshine), but I won't hesitate to revisit this lovely post in late February when I'm getting impatient for pretty things to pop through the soil...

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