February maybe our shortest month but it always feels long, not least because my longing for Spring reaches fever pitch by now. I’m well aware though that there are still many days to go before winter is shed, especially here on the edge of England’s Peak District where snows often return in March. We’ve not had much since the polar vortex of New Year so it’s time to call on Skadi, Norse goddess of winter who also embodies the art of patience.
“One kind word can warm three winter months.” – Japanese Proverb
And meanwhile Japan has just been hit with severe winter storms and swathes of the country are lying under thick blankets of snow so I give thanks for all the many days of rain we’ve had here instead.
And under all these overcast skies the native Lesser Celandines (Ficaria verna) are just beginning to brighten my woodland They have such a sunny disposition although in traditional herbal medicine their use is for that place where the sun never shines since the nodules on their roots are suggestive of haemorrhoids. Hence this plant is also known as pilewort,
“Green hills of nature again I see
The pilewort returns to the hum of the bee“
John Clare ~
There is a dark leaved cultivar of the Ficaria, discovered some years ago in Christopher Lloyd’s woodland. Called ‘brazen hussy’ I’ve had it growing in a Spring planter for a few years but this year nothing has emerged so far.
Another ray of winter sunshine are the oranges that fill our supermarket shelves, But you can keep your ‘easy peelers’ for now is the month that I keep my eyes peeled (excuse the pun) for what we used to call ‘blood oranges’ But with generations of sensitive, readily triggered consumers, these have been remarketed as ‘Sweet Reds’. One can only hope so!
Almost a year ago an elderly neighbour died after weeks of hospital care meaning his dog was left home alone much of the time, with intermittent pop in care from family. Thus Rosie came to live with me and she is featured here because despite being a sprightly geriatric of nearly 16, she has this week fallen ill with a couple of serious infections. I’m hoping her cross breed genes of Jack Russell and Chihuahua will see her through. That and several vet visits which gave me this waiting room photo op!
And so with a little more patience and optimism I’m eking out these days of February with high hopes for some upcoming seed sowing yet still holding back as freezing weather is predicted again.
Thursday Thoughts: From the mundane to the profound as long as its prose
PoetryPix 
Oh I so remember the excitment of blood oranges when I was a child. I loved the name too, and the looks of the crimson streaked flesh. I suppose they were the first fresh eating fruits of the year. I seem to remember too, they weren’t so sweet. Mother served the segments with glucose! At least Nigel Slater is still calling them blood oranges. We’re in danger of losing our metaphorical nuances now that so many terms and phrases are being banished in fear of squeamishness.
Get well wishes to the poorly Rosie.
ahh Glucose – one of those things we children were fed – I had it on a spoon, white and dry as dust, and would have preferred your Mother’s way. Yes indeed Tish such a literal generation, no metaphor, no poetry.
Thank you – Rosie much slowed down, sleepier but healing 🤞
Get well soon Rosie!
Spring seems far away here as well. A friend gave me an amaryllis bulb and it’s getting higher by the day, so hopefully I will have a flower soon to tide me over until I can bid winter farewell. (K)
the Amaryllis are like rocket flowers – so much glory on the end to look forward to
Rosie has strong genes! Sending extra hugs and thoughts to both!
thank you Marina – am staying optimistic in the short term!
My grandmother was fond of the term brazen hussy, I didn’t know there was a plant named so 🙂 Loved the prose Laura, wishing you warmth.
thank you Paul for appreciating some prose from me
Rosie back to enjoying a walk?
she is not keen on going far but still taking the medicine- thanks for asking Diana