Aside from the green of the grass and the grey sky, there isn’t too much colour going on in my winter world. Sometimes we do get those incredible blue sky days where everything looks like is part of some grand jewel collection. But for the most part it grey and bleak. Even most of the winter veggies are cloaked in green, except the brilliant red and yellow stalks of the rainbow beets, and pulling out a carrot can offer a splash of orange brilliance for the colour starved gardener.
But then sometimes the colour comes for an unexpected corner and its beauty is especially welcomed and admired as it’s not meant to be there – well not so soon. Yet its presence offers hope that the seemingly relentless grey does in fact have an end and it isn’t all that far away.
Behind the shed, where I store all my pots of bulbs and plants that aren’t doing anything interesting, I spotted a flash of yellow. On investigation I found a beautiful daffodil, waving its solitary head at me. It was perfectly formed; unbattered by the winds and the elements with no holes in its beautiful petals as most of the slugs and snails are still in their winter hibernation. And its scent was heavenly – the smell of spring and fresh starts and a vibrancy not found in the sluggish winter months.
So I took the pot containing this incredible specimen and moved it from behind the shed to pride of place at the front door so everyone can see this wonderful thing I found and have their spirits lifted by this flash of yellow from a season not so far away.
Come again soon – I have a hankering for turnip soup.
Sarah the Gardener : o )
It’s for precisely this reason that I plant rainbow chard–to carry me through the colorless winter, both in the garden, and on the table.
Hi There. I think I notice the colours more in winter as there are so few bright ones. The summer can be quite flashy with all its fruits and flowers.
I love things that make me stop and notice them.
Cheers Sarah : o )
Cream of turnip soup YUM! We are getting those little jewels turning up. The azaleas haven’t stopped flowering despite our minus Celcius temperatures that keep Steve and I procrastinating inside near the fire. We have bulbs springing up everywhere. It’s going to be a wonderful year for the bulbs :). Our days are crystal clear, bitingly cold and a constant reminder that we are incredibly lucky to be alive. The blue of the sky backs up the frigid cold and to set foot outside is to receive an instant cost free facelift as your skin instantly reacts to the cold. That hasn’t stopped Steve from heading out to try to photograph the elusive Aurora Australis that has been making its presence felt throughout Tassie. Even he had to give up last night as it was so cold! Love that daffy :). Ours are a bit behind yours but the jonquils and snowdrops are going great guns. Our property used to be an extension (and part of) the Auld Kirk Church next door. There are probably old unmarked graves on our property and there are little clumps of wayward bulbs that just spring up every year. A constant and annual reminder that we are just parts of a much huger ancient cycle of life that goes on 🙂
Hi Fran.
Gosh – you don’t think you would accidentally dig someone up? That would be weird.
I do love getting out in the invigorating cold and getting stuff done – but the thought of getting out there in the cold can often hold me back. It is much easier when the sun is shining while it is cold – because it tricks you into thinking it might be warm!
It’s nice to have these early spring flowers to remind us the cold won’t last forever! Although I’m not in a hurry to bring on the spring as that would be wishing my life away and the cycle of life seems to be going faster and faster every year and I would like time to stop and smell the daffodils!
Stay warm.
Cheers Sarah : o )
I agree with you on the speed of life thing, the older I get the faster life seems to speed! Apparently it slows down again when you get old so hopefully I manage to get to “old” so that I can enjoy that slower pace again ;). There isn’t much chance of us digging anyone up here as the ground is too hard and rocky. I know that the original minister of the church is buried next door in our neighbours grounds as where she lives was the original church manse. She is 91 and is more likely to dig up her minister than we are to dig up a convict or two ;). Once I am outside I work like a Trojan, the problem is, motivation! I could procrastinate for the queen and the problem is, so could Steve! Oh well, at least we are trying (some might say severely trying 😉 ). At least I don’t get hayfever from the jonquils like my mum did 😉