February 2025

~ Ashley 

February;
Springtime brings the light,
And hope.


Green tongues,
Sense the growing light;
New shoots.
 

Mid way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox is Imbolc, a pagan festival of renewal; I read that in Old Irish the term means “the belly of the Mother” (Earth).  In Christianity this time is known as Candlemas, also a time of renewal and the returning light.  The earth is stirring from the cold of winter, plants are beginning to grow and since the Winter Solstice in December, the days are perceptibly longer.

All my photos were taken at Rowallane, near Saintfield, County Down.  It was a day for hat and gloves but every now and then the sun shone brightly.  As we entered the walled garden we could see the work already done by the many volunteers who joyfully tend these borders.  Whilst there were few flowers there was one exception, Daphne bholua “Alba” (see my first photo).  This shrub was covered in wonderful little flowers and in this walled garden the scent was heavenly.  If there had been a seat close by we might still be sitting there!

Have a wonderful Spring.

Ashley

#Note: WordPress have once again made changes, resulting in me not adding as many photos as usual and I found it very frustrating producing this blog. I know of one or two others who’ve had similar difficulties.

#Note: my email notifications were filled by someone “liking” many of my posts and as usual WP asks if I’d like to check out this other persons blog which I did and I was taken to a website that shows my blogs but on someone else’s page! Beware of SPAM!



69 thoughts on “February 2025”

  1. Happy Imbolc, Ashley! I reside at a similar latitude, and we might get a little snow in the next few days, but it isn’t stopping the little buds from peeking out, foreshadowing the spring. I love daphne! It’s so fragrant! What a beautiful garden, too. Thanks for the photos and thoughts (and the heads up!).

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    1. Thank you, Camilla, this is one of my favourite small gardens to visit and not too far from home. Isn’t it wonderful to see the buds? Thank you for your visit and your comments. 🤗🙋‍♂️

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  2. That’s awful someone stole your posts. Hope WP took care of that for you. It’s annoying to me when someone likes a string of posts in seconds. It’s clear they aren’t reading the posts.

    Lovely photos and post Ashley. Have a happy Imbolc!

    Reply

    1. Usually, people might use pingback but not in this case! No harm done but rather unsettling since they didn’t ask my permission! Thank you for you comments and happy Imbolc to you, Katelon and those you love. 🤗🙋‍♂️

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  4. Forgot to comment on your Notes. It’s indeed frustrating when WP makes changes. I had to try several times in order to publish my recent post and I still didn’t succeed in resolving the problem. Sorry to hear about the theft of your work 😦

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    1. Dear Joanna, not to worry, I really must write soon. I think you are mid alterations so I’ll give it a week or two before emailing you. Changes here too, but not of the building sort! 🤗💌🌹😘

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  6. beautiful shots Ashley! glad to see you post. hope you get that wordpress photo problem solved. i just started hosting my photos from another site because i found the system too archaic. again, thanks for sharing these! Mike

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    1. Thanks Mike, it is such a pain! I’ve been adding photos easily for “ever” but now there are new ways to do it and for me, at my age, it is just so frustrating! Thanks for your visit to my blog. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Sara, I hope so too. Everything seems to take an age to sort out! Perhaps Storm Ewoyn has something to do with it. Yes, a walled garden is also a favourite with us! Enjoy what’s left of the weekend.🤗😘🙋‍♂️

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    1. Hi Friedrich, frustrating is just right! Even now, as I write, I cannot even add emojis as I used to. Not that I’m going to send you them but it is just some thing else to take away our energy. Thanks for your visit here.

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  10. Wonderful, uplifting photographs, Ashley. The sun is shining here this morning, and a sense of the light returning. Best wishes.

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    1. Thanks, Michael. It is just the best time of the year and no doubt you will will to the hills for some longer walks soon! I look forward to your walking posts!

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    1. Yes, you are right, green is a wonderful colour! If you visited this island you’d see many greens not experienced before! I can’t add emojis unless I use “edit” but you are always worth it 😊🤗🌹😘

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      1. How nice, Ashley. I’m a homebody now. I don’t see much travel in my future, except in the State of Florida. 🌴🌊🐚

  12. Beautiful haiga, Fraxy! Love your images and hokku! Spring is here! Wildflowers are beginning to push their way into the light! Love this time of year! Stay warm and keep moving!

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    1. Thanks, Edo-san. Your comments are always so welcome! Me too! I love the spring when everything seems to have an extra energy about them, me included!

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  14. Sorry about that , my comment could not be posted it said. I;ll try again. That is a lovely garden. Mine starts slowly too, with a Camelia and some snowdrops.

    wishing you a nice February and more buds. Keep warm. xx

    Reply

    1. Dear Ute, thank you. I do love garden visits, even at this time of year. Wen have been watching Monty Don visit many gardens around the UK and, well, they are a joy. More buds to come but I’m now working on something completely different; watch this space!

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    1. Dear Michele, don’t you wish you were back here on this island enjoying the wonderful greenery? Thanks for your visit here. Wishing you a wonderful February. 🤗🌹💌

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      1. A frequent wish, yes. 💚 You’re very welcome and thank you for sharing some lovely highlights. Best to you and enjoy the occasion and season! 🤗

  18. Thanks for this taste of spring! The longer days are indeed heartening.

    WP looks different every time I try to write a post lately. It’s really annoying–not sure what they are trying to do this time, but I just try to adapt as best I can. (K)

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    1. Dear Marina, thank you for your lovely comments. It’s almost 03.30 PM here and I’ve already had to switch the light on to see my keyboard; heatings switched on too! Yes, roll on brighter days! 🤗🌞😎

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  22. Nice pictures when the days are longer and it starts to smell like spring. Where I live, after a cold January, February has started with a nice sunshine that warms up a bit at midday, which is great for a walk. Be patient with wordpress, changes often don’t mean improvements. Un abrazo 🌞🙋‍♂️

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  23. Thank you, Sabius, the afternoon light today was dwindling at 03.30 PM as I had to turn the light on to see the keyboard! Thanks for your visit here and stay away from those cliff tops! 🙏🙋‍♂️

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    1. Hi Sharon, thanks for your comments. I love all the seasons but spring is special as it brings light and hope and of course the promise of a bit more warmth. We’ve still got our heating on, low, to keep the chill out of our home but as we grow older it’s staying on for longer! 🤗🌞🙋‍♂️

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    1. Dear Barbara, thank you and a very happy spring to you too! It is a special time bringing everyone brighter, longer and warmer days. Un gran abrazo de mi parte!

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      1. I completely agree with your thoughts. It’s such a challenge trying to navigate all the technical aspects of posting, especially when you’re not very tech-savvy. My previous post was really hard to get up, especially since it was a video! I had to create an entirely new category on my site just to make it work. I was so frustrated last night—I couldn’t upload the video or even the pictures I took of the sky with the clouds that I wrote about. Exhausted, I ended up settling for the Pexels photos that WP offered instead. It’s such a hassle sometimes!

        Wishing you all the best with those stolen posts—what a headache! And thank you so much for your visits to my site, it truly means a lot. I’m so glad I came across yours today, especially with this beautiful garden you’ve shared! It was a lovely breath of fresh air

      2. Dear Patricia, you’ve attached your comment to Anna’s and it looks like I can only reply to it via Anna’s comment. 🤗🌹😊

      3. I completely agree with your thoughts. It’s such a challenge trying to navigate all the technical aspects of posting, especially when you’re not very tech-savvy. My previous post was really hard to get up, especially since it was a video! I had to create an entirely new category on my site just to make it work. I was so frustrated last night—I couldn’t upload the video or even the pictures I took of the sky with the clouds that I wrote about. Exhausted, I ended up settling for the Pexels photos that WP offered instead. It’s such a hassle sometimes!

        Wishing you all the best with those stolen posts—what a headache! And thank you so much for your visits to my site, it truly means a lot. I’m so glad I came across yours today, especially with this beautiful garden you’ve shared! It was a lovely breath of fresh air

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