Antidote to grief

 

as always, is gratitude.

I looked at the garden this morning, and saw that there were some autumn flowers still struggling through, despite the approaching darkness of mid-winter. The first, is the tall verbena bonariensis. It's surrounded by winter colour of the berries of the vibernum, the dark stems of sedum, and the variegated leaves of the shrub whose name I have mislaid.

Below that, the scabious is flowering, as it has done since late summer.

It has been a very mild day today, with some lovely winter sunshine. But I am reminded that colder weather is on its way and there will be little natural food for the birds in the garden. It was the matter of minutes to set up the Bird Feeding station, 

and replenish the bird house with dried mealy worms. As I was doing that, I noticed that the Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn can be seen flowering behind, on bare stalks. She will continue to do so until next Spring, when leaves will replace the sweet scented blooms. 

The skies darkened and a chill descended, reminding me of the approaching season of mid-winter

Despite the gloom of long, dark days, and the continuous bad news about the Pandemic, there is much for which I am grateful. Yesterday's arrival of a Winter Music, snow globe, plays Deck the Halls (among other carols). It will soon be time to deck the halls to celebrate the Winter Solstice with a few friends.