Hips from last summer's roses hang elegantly above virgin snowdrops, an illustration of nature's ability to merge the seasons without a care for the rules of design!
How beautifully February's clean light accentuates the vermillion orbs, offering a hint of the decadence that the flowering rose-heads will add to the valley this summer. And what of the daring, promiscuous snowdrops? Delicate form disguises the tenacity of this mountain top flower, determined to push up through the hard winter soil and open their heart-shaped faces to the sun. Brilliant white clumps punctuate the hillside, illuminating the flash of witch-hazel which is desperate for its moment centre stage.
Rays of sunshine, coupled with the scent of the 'Butcher's Broom' and "Ribes', have tempted the honeybees out of their hive. Their soft buzz vibrates as they dine on early nectar and they bless the garden with the ultimate gift; pollination.