February – the promise of Spring…

The sun is streaming through my windows today – the memory of last weeks snow fading fast.   There is that stirring of nature and promise of Spring just around the corner.   This is what I wrote in my Celebrating the Year 2009 Art Journal (in green type) illustrated with a silk painting that I did of one of the most delicate of late winter / early spring flowers – the Snowdrop.

FEBRUARY

“The Snowdrop, in purest white array,

 First rears her head on Candlemas day.”

Snowdrops – Silk Paining 1999

TO A SNOWDROP

LONE Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they
But hardier far, once more I see thee bend
Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,
Like an unbidden guest.  Though day by day,
Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay
The rising sun, and on the plains descend;
Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend
Whose zeal outruns his promise!  Blue-eyed May
Shall soon behold this border thickly set
With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing
On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;
Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,
Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,
And pensive monitor of fleeting years!

William Wordsworth1819.

“I always remember February as the month it will snow.  I was at home this year during the heavy snowfall which almost brought parts of the country to a standstill over the course of a week.  Not only is it a glorious sight to wake up to a completely white world, but even better if you are lucky enough to wake early and capture it in a completely untouched state.  Although it can sometimes be very frustrating what else brings us to the point of standing still in this hectic world?

The Snowdrop appears in February and is a symbol of hope that winter will eventually give way to spring.  Snowdrops are also known as Candlemas bells and Candlemas Day is celebrated on 2^nd February.

You cannot let February slip by without a visit to one of the many Snowdrop Walks that are advertised and discover a woodland carpet of pure white snowdrops emerging from the decaying brown leaves.  Such a delightful and magical sight and one that you can never tire of.  Afterwards finish the day with a steaming hot mug of chocolate.”

Let us hope that after the heap of snow we have already experienced in January that February will be kinder to us.  I imagine that for most of us the gardening books will be coming out again and plans to spring clean and decorate are being made, if not already underway.

What are you looking forward to doing?

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