Despite the cold, this hardy shrub reliably survives and flowers. Witch hazel, or hamamelis mollis, has a subtle scent that will remind you, if you are a certain age, of that hanky you were given to dab on a bruise! This species is both useful and beautiful. I’ve featured it here before, but I somehow don’t get tired of it…
And so another week bring spring a little closer; I noticed these white crocuses today – a welcome sight, despite being still in tight bud, as you can see. Buds like this are, I think, both intrinsically beautiful and symbolic, like a promise of the new growing season to come.
I’m posting this picture here today to illustrate the effort that is put into restoration work on rolling stock at heritage railways around the country, mostly by volunteers. Hundreds of man hours will go into the restoration of just one coach. The work will involve metalworkers, woodworkers, mechanics, electricians, painters, and more. This coach here will one day be serviceable and look beautiful. Remember that when you visit a heritage railway and buy tickets, you are supporting a piece of this country’s history. Thank you.
We have some colour again, at last! Today, I found these dwarf cyclamen in flower, which cheered me up a bit. Besides anything else, I love all purple flowers, and these look so wonderfully delicate, even though they are actually quite hardy, and come up year after year. Nearby, there are some narcissi or daffodil shoots, but we shall have to wait patiently for the flowers…
