February

February fill dyke, black or white...is a saying from my childhood about the vicissitude of the weather at this time of year

"NOW the golden Morn aloft
Waves her dew-bespangled wing,
With vermeil cheek and whisper soft
She woos the tardy Spring"

So writes Thomas Gray in his poem "Ode on the Pleasure Arising from Vicissitude"
How aptly it describes the first week of February!
There's been strong to gale force winds, bright, calm balmy days and dark, sullen shrouded rainy ones.
Looking around the garden, I espied...a single, tiny camellia flower red against the greenery.

Bold, yellow crocus venture into view.

Snowdrops? The barest glimpse of white and promise of bells.