I Love February For...


... the return to the light

I really struggle with February. It's tucked in right at the end of winter and it's usually remorselessly dull and grey without the brightness of Christmas to cheer it up.

When I commuted to work in Bristol, it was the fourth month in a row when I started out in the dark and returned home in the dark.

And then, right at the end of the month, I'd look out of the train carriage window and realise I could still see things when we were coming into Chippenham.

You have no idea how glad I felt at that moment.

Comments

  1. rusty duck2 February 2014 at 11:03

    The seeds have arrived. And the propagator is cleaned out and ready to go. Hurrah!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:18

      Hurrah indeed! On the 15th we'll have 10 hours of light here - one of the things needed for good growing. I'll be getting my heated propagator out then :)

      Delete
  2. Caro2 February 2014 at 11:22

    Even with the rain this winter, the milder weather has brought a few dry patches here in London and it's been warm enough to venture out daily with a coat. I quite like the darker evenings as the streets look all twinkly and I'm able to look up and see the moon or fabulous sunsets - as with the sky in your photo! I've been noticing that dusk is a few minutes later every day and now actively thinking about when to start sowing - and where I'm going to put all my seed trays without having a greenhouse! It will be Chelsea Flower Show before we know it! Are you coming to the London spring shows in a few weeks time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:19

      Hi Caro, I'm in London a couple of times this month (13th and 26th), but sadly not for the shows :(

      Delete
  3. Flighty2 February 2014 at 14:18

    It's getting noticeably lighter in the late afternoons now thankfully. I want it to get lighter in the mornings as I'm always up and about early. Flighty ss

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pauline2 February 2014 at 15:26

    The birds are waiting for their breakfast when I come down in the morning and I can see them now! Plus more light in the evening, soon it will be spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:23

      I'm hearing lots of birds starting to call out there territories Pauline, so things are definitely on the move into spring...

      Delete
  5. Janet/Plantaliscious2 February 2014 at 18:52

    I am starting to really notice the lighter mornings and evenings - and am always grateful that February is a short month! Like Jessica I now have a clean propagator and a large pile of seeds to help me get through it - some more sunny days would help - but at least the bulbs are starting to poke their heads up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:22

      The snowdrops have really come on over the weekend here Janet, which is another reason to like February. March is a special month for me, so I'm always grateful February is the shortest month of the year.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous2 February 2014 at 19:45

    Brighter mornings and evenings, bulbs peeping up, and bubbles in the pond from the fontain, rather than ice - Spring surely IS on it's way!
    e.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:24

      A great list for February, Emma and lovely to see your first comment on this blog too :)

      Delete
  7. Shady Character2 February 2014 at 21:12

    Still a month or two of snow here but it definitely feels like we've turned the corner for daylight. I heard cardinals and chickadees singing their spring songs last week, too. That helped!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:25

      Oh, I'd love to hear a chickadee! We've got plenty of robins doing a great job here though.

      Delete
  8. CJ2 February 2014 at 22:11

    I'm still enjoying the winter. It's a time of taking it easy! Spring and summer involve a lot of hard work. Right now I'm loving a rest from the outside things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 10:26

      Hi CJ - yes, next month will be hard work! Hopefully the rain will subside for a while this month so I can get some of the tidying up done...

      Delete
  9. colleen3 February 2014 at 13:59

    Oh, yes. It's all about the light. And give me February over January any day. So full of promise... as soon as the sun comes out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 February 2014 at 20:02

      It's odd - I can take January. There's the afterglow of Christmas and I like its newness. And with special events happening in March, it always seems to be getting in my way!

      Delete
  10. Anna3 February 2014 at 21:38

    A most striking sunset in that photo. November is the month that I really struggle to get through, with February following close behind, but at least it's so short and there are snowdrops to count for those who can like you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP5 February 2014 at 12:09

      They've really started to come out now, which is great.
      *whispers* it's a sunrise, but who cares, seeing you like it :)

      Delete
  11. Ockduspock7 February 2014 at 06:16

    Beautiful sky!

    ReplyDelete

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