Reflection Through The Seasons

LOOKING BACK ON FEBRUARY.......

As February quickly draws to a close I guess this looks like being my only post for the month so, the best way I can review it is by showing a few of the pictures I’ve taken.

The month began with severe weather warnings...... bitterly cold winds carrying heavy downfalls of snow from Siberia covered most of the UK. London was badly affected bringing road, rail and air traffic to a standstill. We were fortunate in our corner of Wales....... and the following snowy scenes show the worst it got for us..... just enough snow fell to give a pretty covering, still allowing what colour there is in the garden to show through..... however, the surrounding mountains looked like familiar winter wonderland scenes in Switzerland.

These pictures were taken on 2 February (Candlemas) and I am reminded of an old saying that goes..... "If Candlemas be fair and bright, winter will have another flight; but if Candlemas bring cloud and rain..... winter is gone and won't come again" Hmmmm!

The dredging of snow, looks like a frosting on cakes and outlines the attractive shape of leaves and branches so beautifully.

This picture of the garden was taken through an upstairs window......

The weeping Kilmarnock Willow has grown into such a tangle of branches, a good place for a bird to make a nest.

Here's George with his gorgeous thick winter coat, which is very much in need of a good brush, but grooming is something that George isn't fond of.

On my conservatory table sit two beautiful pots of flowers....... the hyacinths are filling the room with the most exquisite perfume and the cyclamen have been most generous with their floral display since well before Christmas.

February had its sunnier and milder days too..... I have shown this clump of daffodils in an earlier post, they have been flowering since the end of November.

Walking along the dyke..... John pauses to look at the waters running icy cold and deep.

It always intrigues me to observe what an amazing amount of plants sustain life in the cracks and crevices of old dry stone walls. Right now there is an abundance of Navelwort or Pennywort as it is often called.... it has a pretty round fleshy leaf with a stalk that is joined at the rear and a dimple in the centre of the front. It is said to take its one of its names from the size of a penny coin, however, when my children were small and taken on country walks we always referred to it as ‘babies tummies’ and I was pleased to discover we weren’t far off the mark either, for its botanical name is actually...... Umbilicus rupestris. I was interested to find a recent article about this little plant in my February ‘Country Living’ magazine it states that Navelwort was once used as a poultice for burns and not only that, its juicy leaves taste good in a salad too, with a flavour reminiscent to lamb’s lettuce...... I’d be interested to know if anyone has tried it. I shall be gathering a few leaves to try next time I’m out.

A lovely clump of 'babies tummies'

Just look at what grows in these old walls, isn't it amazing!.... if you click on the picture it will enlarge for more detail

These pictures were taken later in the month..... quite a contrast to the wintery scenes at the beginning of my post. With signs of spring all around and in the warmth of the February sun..... walking the lanes is such a joy now.

More and more lambs are to be seen in the fields and birdsong is a joy to behold as mornings and evenings are lengthening.

I think my final picture really celebrates the coming of spring. It was taken earlier this week..... Whilst out walking..... I was invited to look around a neighbour’s garden and by chance had my camera with me. Oh! and I spotted a bumble bee in my garden this week too.

Before I end my February post, I would like to tell you that a health issue has raised its ugly head and I would be so grateful if you would hold me in your prayers please.