Hope

The passing of time can often be observed with the changes in the weather. January is described as one of the coldest winter months in the UK. However, it is in this month that we find the first signs of spring in our gardens, parks and woodlands. The aconites with their golden yellow flowers remind me of the sunny days to come which will dispel the winter blues. The beautiful delicate flowers of the snowdrop remind us that determination and perseverance always win in the harshest extremes of winter.

The bud of the snowdrop resembles a spearhead as it pushes upwards through frozen ground and ice to the surface. When the snowdrop reaches its full height the tiny bud opens and, turning to face the ground, resembles a pure white bell. There are many varieties of snowdrops, each one with either distinctive centres or leaf formations. With two fingers at the top of the stem underneath the flower, one can turn the snowdrop upwards to see its inner beauty.
​
These two flowers, one looking towards better days and the other encouraging perseverance amidst hardship give us hope to not give up when tough times come and to look forward to the future. Whatever the future may hold, we can live in what we have learned as we’ve persevered to inspire others as they too journey through their own difficult times. 

---

Merle Sparkes

​​
​Return to Home page - Merle's nature blog