February first was a good day for a walk: no rain and temperature in the mid-forties. A quiet, peaceful day.
You had to admire the subtle variations in the wintry colors. The soft gray clouds floating over the coarse gray sand. The lacy brown branches and the heavy chunks of driftwood. A touch of mossy green grass. The cloudy-day sea stretching across to white clouds and a bit of blue.
All in all, it formed a restful winter’s scene.
As I walked, though, I found myself looking for bits of brightness. Not that I don’t appreciate subtlety and peace. But the eye wants what it wants.
Before long, spring flowers will be blooming. The buds on my rhododendron are growing fat. The bulbs in my patio are sprouting.
But on February first, I had to look hard to find color on my waterfront walk.
At this time of year, though, you can always depend on hellebores. Also the sweet little violas.
And you can be sure that at some point the weather will change and the clouds will lift. It didn’t take long.
Wishing you all a life of peaceful days with many spots of color.
Happy Lunar New Year.
Lovely photos and so encouraging to find these little bits of cheer
And more color is popping out every day. Thanks for the encouragement.
This looked like a really peaceful winter’s day, and a day with nice weather too. It’s lovely you found some colour. A bit of colour can add so much cheer and brightness, a reminder that growth is always happening though you don’t see it. The hellebore looks lovely, such a stunning pink. Definitely thriving in the cooler months.
Here in Australia we are in the middle of summer. It has surprisingly been pretty wet with more rain this summer (and not that hot), and so we have much greenery all round. So lots of green here at the moment, and flowers with colours of all kinds 🙂
I’m glad you’re having such a lovely green summer. I haven’t been to Melbourne, but I remember how beautiful the gardens in Sydney were when we visited. The thing that surprised me was that they combined flowers and plants from both tropical and temperate zones. I like your reminder that growth is always happening whether we see it or not. It can be the same with us.
Thanks for sharing your walk with us!
Hi Nancy. Thanks for coming along.
I really enjoy the cloudy, watery light in winter. It’s a nice break from SoCal sun, and it makes you appreciate sunny days more when they return.
That’s the thing about the seasons, they give us something different to look forward to.
I’m a huge fan of hellebores – I love the subtle hues to their colours. I’m seeing pictures on social media of snowdrops, so I think it’s time I took a stroll in some woodland to get the in person experience. Spring flowers in the wild make my heart positively sing 🙂
Yes. It’s time to start thinking about the best places to walk through the woods. The flowers in our forests tend to be small. You have to watch for them. Some examples: salmon berry blossoms and triliums.
Gorgeous photos Nicki! I especially love last one of the Marina!
Thank you, Maureen.
I enjoyed your walk. I look for color at this time of year, too. Our January was gray, but now February, while not as far along as yours, is brighter at least. Love the viola photo, now that’s what I’m talking about.
I had to get down on my hands and knees to get that viola photo. They’re so tiny. I planted violas on top of my potted bulbs to give me something to look a while I’m waiting for the daffodils and tulips. Looking around, I see quite a bit of winter color. Across the street is a Japanese maple with bright red bark. The leaves on the heavenly bamboo in my patio are more red-orange this time of year and then green underneath.
As usual your photos are beautiful! I’m so grateful you took us on your walk! I didn’t know what a hellebore was! So glad you found color on your walk. I’m looking out of my window and seeing a lot of gray and brown.
Thank you, L. Marie. I love color. I don’t have a single white wall in my house.
Some hellebores bloom earlier. My grandma called them Christmas roses. She always picked a bouquet of them from her yard for a Christmas decoration. Some people call this later variety Easter roses.