Sunset and Moonrise
February 19, 2010 by Bird
Filed under Blog, Good Stuff, Skywatch Friday, Winter
It’s hard to believe that spring is coming but it is – no, really. The birds are singing with renewed vigour and in the garden buds are fattening, the heads of hyacinths are poking through the waterlogged soil and every evening the sun sets a little later. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s still snowing in many places where it’s been snowing for months, but the return of the sun is inexorable.
At the beginning of the month we were in Hampshire where the scoured hills lay naked and shivering waiting for the first crop of the year to mantle them. The beginning of February is about as bleak as it gets in the UK, trees stand as bare as pylons and wind scourged hedgerows bleached by frost are choked with the dead straws of last summer.
Is it any wonder that people at this time of year are desperate to be reminded that summer will return? Ever since people have lived on these islands we have waited for the signs – any sign – that winter will soon be over. February 2nd is the day that many people tired of winter associate with the return of the sun and wether you call this date Imbolc, St Brigids day, Candlemass (or in the US and Canada, Groundhog day) I think we are all united in one simple desire – to see the start of spring.
Imbolc was a beautiful cold frosty day and as wintry as you can imagine, but it was the first time we’d seen the sun in a good long while. I spent the day stalking through hedgerows (and I may write about what I saw there in another post), and as the sun sank low on the horizon a two minute miracle occurred. An ash tree in the hedgerow before me was struck golden by the falling rays of the sun, and it flamed against the brilliance of the deep blue winter sky.
As I approached I realised that the tree was full of Fieldfares, a shy migratory thrush we have seen in extraordinary numbers this winter. One by one they streamed from the tree as I got closer, their harsh alarm calls filling the air. I was distracted by sounds in the hedgerow – deer! and when I looked up again, the tree was grey and silent once more. But when I looked in the other direction, I saw this
And this
Later that evening as we knew that the moon would be full, we decided to go and watch it rise and light candles in thanks that the sun would be returning again tomorrow. The sky had clouded over and in truth we didn’t expect to see anything. Then with uncanny timing the clouds parted as we reached our vantage point and slowly a vast amber moon hoisted itself into the sky.
For more beautiful and fascinating images of the sky around the world, visit Skywatch Friday!
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Ah, lovely pics as usual, Bird. I especially like that first with the silhouette and then the golden sunset on the tree. And what a beautiful sunset…holy cow, I just love all of ‘em! And your words are making me yearn for warm weather even more. For the next few days our temps should be in the 40′s, so maybe we can rid ourselves of some of this snow. Hope your warmer days are there before you know it. Happy SWF and have a good weekend!
Thank you so much Holly but those compliments go straight to the landscape – it was such a gorgeous day that photographing it was kind of like shooting fish in a barrel
The snow you’ve been having over there has to be incredibly difficult to live with so I’m glad that it’s looking like you’ll be seeing a thaw. The 40′s is still cold so wrap up warm, that’s an order!
These are stunning pictures Bird. I think there is a rare beauty in the structure of bare trees even against bleak skies – as usual you have managed to capture moments beautifully. The illuminated ash fills me with a longing for the change of season. We are still under snow, being this high above sea level meant it never really disappeared – your glimpses of spring are much appreciated!
I love bare winter trees too, and I particularly like them at this time of year when every last leaf has been stripped out. You get the sense that this is as far as winter can go – and then you get that amazing effect when the buds begin to swell and even though the trees are still leafless, from a distance they magically change colour.
It sounds like winter is taking it’s time letting go of your part of the world Goo, I think this must be one of the longest winters I’ve ever lived through. Hopefully the snow will retreat and you’ll be getting some signs of spring to warm you soon!
Thank you for sharing…I really loved this one, in fact I had a tear in my eye……..
Gorgeous, lovely pictures…and I thank you for sharing Imbolc, I never knew this…
Chrissy thank you, I’m touched that this post had such an effect. Here’s to the coming of spring!
Hi Bird, Thank you for the photographs and beautiful words…which remind me of James Lovelock and Gaia
“The earth is more than just a home, it’s a living system and we are part of it.”
xhenry
ps thank you for the Facebook friendship
Hello Henry! The knowledge embedded in that one quote is so important, and I think this is a good time of year to really draw attention to that idea and live accordingly. I think that the point where the seasons are poised to change is a powerful time, a time when we actually notice nature and begin to take our queues from it – even decidedly urbane people who claim never to notice or even care for the natural world. Thank you for sharing that quote, it’s a really important fundamental idea.
And thank you for returning the friendship Henry!
Great shots! My husband & I were just talking the other day about the slanting rays of light at the end of the day, the way they seem to paint everything a golden orange. LOVE that effect!
Hi Lana, I think this is my favourite time of day, just before dusk when the light is coming at us low! And one compensation for it being winter is that I think the light seems to do this special trick best at this time of year
I just LOVE. this. post. There is something about it, your words and images. . . I am transported in a way that reminds me of the beauty and magic to be found in my everyday. Thank you, again.