Like these frail snowdrops that together cling

Its been such a stormy month or two here at Hazel Cottage (and for most people in the South of England).  At the weekend I managed to get into the garden on a sunny moment very briefly in between rain showers and plant a few very late tulip bulbs and sweep up some sodden leaves.  Before I ran back into the house, I noticed that the snowdrops had appeared just in time for Candlemas:

Amongst all the storms and rain, the simple snowdrop peeps through the leaves and twigs.  I read the other day that the snowdrop, which appear in the midst of winter is a symbol of hope.  There is a legend that the snowdrop appeared when Adam and Eve were about to give up hope that the cold winters would ever end.  An angel appeared and transformed some snow flakes into snowdrops - proving that winter does eventually give way to springtime.

William Wordsworth wrote a poem called 'On seeing a tuft of snowdrops following a storm' in 1888.  It seemed rather apt that he too had experienced stormy winter weather and that the snowdrops symbolised hope.

'Like these frail snowdrops that together cling,
And nod their helmets, smitten by the wing
Of many a furious whirl-blast sweeping by.'

It is traditional that the snowdrop appears around Candlemas, on 2nd February.  I had just started this blog when I read Jane's lovely post about candlemas, which I recommend if you want to know more.

Our garden fence - we wont be putting it back up until we are sure we wont get more wind and rain!

The saying goes 'If Candlemas be fair and clear,  there'll be two winters in the year.'   Rather worryinging, Candlemas was quite a sunny pleasant day in the midst of all the storms.  There are more high winds and heavy rain forecast for this coming week.

 

Signs of a spring yet to come

 "The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."
-  Gertrude S. Wister