Unpredictable shifts towards spring

(Nimue)

Last week there were some warmer days when it felt like early spring. This week we’re dropping below freezing at night and the days are bitterly cold. This is normal enough for the journey from winter to spring in my corner of the UK. It isn’t a smooth journey. Late frosts and snows are always an option.

The photo shows fattening leaf buds on a little tree near my home. Daffodils are putting up leaves and I’ve seen a lot of other ground cover plants emerging from the earth in sheltered spots. Spring comes in fits and starts, and a sudden shift in the weather can dramatically set everything back. Climate chaos of course makes it all more unpredictable than it was in the past.

I always find this first sighting of new leaves a hopeful moment. No matter how much winter lies ahead, spring is certainly on the way, and I find comfort in that knowledge. I don’t do well with really cold conditions, spring always comes as a relief to me.