This time of year is the hardest, when the skies hardly ever seem to be anything but grey, and the drab dullness of wet woods and sodden fields is only occasionally lifted into life by the sudden brief appearance of the sun. I’d been yearning for colour so badly that it had become a real sensation of emptiness, like hunger or thirst.
It had been raining for days and I hadn’t been out for more than a few minutes at a time, so when I got to the park again after almost a week I was completely taken by surprise – carpets of colour; purple and lavender and white, flashes of bright emerald green, and the tiniest punctuation of yellow. There was even a moment or two when the sun came out from behind the clouds. I got down on my knees in the wet grass and pushed my face as close in amongst them as I could, and just looked, and took great long breaths of colour.
They are not yet as beautiful as they were last year, and perhaps they won’t be – perhaps that was the result of freezing temperatures that carried on well into March, so that they arrived late, in April, whereas this year the ground has been drenched with rain and stayed unfrozen for the entire winter. But the effect on me was the same, and always will be; it’s like coming across an oasis after travelling for months in a desert. I just have no words for how grateful I am. For those of you who are still in the grip of winter, may Spring come soon, and in the meantime I send you the blessing of crocuses.
Invisible Horse 
Thank you for this blessing of crocuses. Winter here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada goes on and on and on. Forecast wind chills of minus 38C for tonight. I will drink in these pictures and keep my faith that spring will come.
Reblogged this on magpie learner and commented:
This morning, my WordPress colleague over at Invisible Horse shared this inspiring and colorful crocus symphony from Bronte country. With March 1 coming in tomorrow like a T.Rex., please enjoy her words and photos. They will renew your faith that spring will come!
I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to be going through a winter such as you are having. My thoughts are with you for having to endure yet another onslaught tomorrow – hope it will pass quickly. Glad the crocuses may have helped a little! Thanks for your lovely appreciative comment, and the re-blog. D.
Thank you. I’ll try to recall your blessing through this weekend, while the predicted ice storm progresses . . . I will also remember, as a way to cheer myself up, the image of you on your knees, consorting with the flowers.
Glad to do anything to provide a bit of cheer! As you will have realised by now, even in public places I am not above kneeling down, lying flat on my back or taking up very odd positions under trees in order to consort with nature and take photographs. I’ll be thinking of you and of everyone in the path of this storm.
“..great long breaths of colour” —Perfectly expressed–I know that exact sensation. As others have noted, thank you for a glimpse of spring, like a sweet letter to all of us still in deep winter. Your photos are gorgeous, especially the last one of all the crocus (crocuses?) under the trees. I’ll picture that in my mind whenever the snow overwhelms me!
I’m really happy that these pictures have been worth sharing and brought the idea of spring, if nothing else. Thanks for your kind words. And yes, I can’t bring myself to say anything but ‘crocuses’ – does anyone actually say ‘croci’? The OED allows both!
Fabulous. Both the words and the images really lifted my spirits.
Glad to hear that! They came at just the right time for me and I wanted to share them with everyone. In fact today they’re even better and I think I’m just going to have to post some more…..
Good to hear from you!