In the Green

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches every year, people start to talk about “the wearing of the green”. Individuals who eschew green clothing and accessories 364 days a year, paw through drawers and closets to find green apparel or jewelry to wear in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. They also eat the green, as … Read more

Solstice Signs

The winter solstice has happened, which means that as each day passes, the western hemisphere gains about one minute of daylight. Of course it will take some time before those daily gains make a difference in daily life. In January and February, storms often obscure the increased daylight, making it harder to pluck hope from … Read more

First Rituals

There is an old Christian hymn that starts, “Lo, how a rose ere blooming, forth from a tender stem.”   The lyrics continue, describing a rose that blooms “amid the cold of winter.” Despite the fact that a winter-blooming rose is a seasonal impossibility in this climate, I persist in looking for one.  In fact, that … Read more

Earliest Snowdrops

Every year in early to mid December, a few snowdrops or galanthus pop up in the little bed by my back porch steps.  Depending on your perspective, they are either the last flowers of the old season or the first flowers of the new season.  I prefer to think of them as a reminder that … Read more

What Now?

Winter is only one month old and even if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, it is going to be a long wait until spring.  You can spend that time staying warm, perusing catalogs and tending the houseplants, but many of us miss being outside. “Outside” is not always congenial, due to seasonal drama provided … Read more