More snow overnight!

Winter set in even more deeply overnight, but not surprisingly.  If we are going to get heavy snow it is usually towards the end of winter, just when we are all looking forward to spring!  The photographs which follow were around the village and along the Five Bridges walk.

Winter is back again!

Just when we thought spring was really on its way, winter is back with a vengeance after some heavy snowfalls.  Most spring flowers can take some punishment in their stride, and it certainly poses no problems for the hellebores.

 

And, as you may expect, winter flowering heathers are also happy to be buried in the snow.

Less happy are these pigeons roosting forlornly in a tree under a grey sky.

A back lane in the village looks like a Christmas card scene.

The village church would have looked good like this three months ago!

Horses steaming in a field, taking advantage of some hay left for them.

These small daffodils will be back on their feet when the sun comes out.



Spring arrives indoors and outdoors.

Probably the darkest month of the year is February, when winter seems interminable and there are no celebrations to lighten the mood.  But indoors spring always comes early in our home with hyacinths on windowsills.

 

 Outside one of last year's primroses has braved the cold weather and is producing its own cluster of bright yellow cheerfulness.

And nearby hellebores of different varieties are in full bloom.