February 2025 - A Seasonal Diary
A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments
“While it is February one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.”
Hello February
Short and sweet, well shortish, maybe not so sweet - short and snowdroppy - we’ll go with that one. Oh and dry! It’s not been that rainy. February is a bridge between the still and the movement, the quiet and the loud. A month of white drippy heads carpeting otherwise bare woods. The birds are quiet in the trees - mostly. Their voices slowly increasing as the days tick by. A noisy Chaffinch singing away above the car whilst a harrased me - fighting against the morning time challenge, ushering in the distracted pre-schooler and catching the escaping toddler ready to wrestle him into the seat. That Chaffich was wishing us a happy trip to nursery, reminding me the morning stress is a choice I make and can control.
Mice - I’ve seen mice. Two! I never see mice. A scurrying brown ball crossing our path, oh another, the same scene but a different field, a different day. Is February a mouse month?
“What’s that little bird over there Teddy? It’s only small, it must be a Wren, I can’t quite see Ted.”
“Where are you looking Mummy?”
“Oh no Teddy, a Goldcrest! And look another one!”.
An Owl atop the fence, it’s nearly my bed time, he is just arising.
The crocus this year flowered on the 21st.
Winter acconites. Like yellow bobbles of sunshine dotted under the hedges.
A lovely month really, Tyranasaurus Toby, the Tobinator, tractor mad still and sitting in the veg bed, full of soil yet empty of seeds, pushing the toy John Deere back and forth. Teddy, my walking cheese and ham sandwhich - for that is what he is mainly made up - cooking up a mud storm in an old colandar. More moments like this please 2025. It’s been such a garden month, we’ve made a potting table from an old metal frame we found on the airfield, we’ve dug a path from the house to the summerhouse, slipper trips to grab my paints will be a much less muddy affair. Built entirely from foraged bricks, stone and sand, leftover spoils from long forgotten farm improvements. Garlic! It’s in. Charles Downing recomends planting it early autumn but it’s a tad late for that. A full bed, hopes are high for a garlicy future.
February In Watercolour
Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…
What has February been like for you? Have you seen anything out in nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...
