I took a walk in Kelsey Park today. The park was busy and love was in the air, but not just because it was Valentine’s Day, but because the sun came out! After endless grey days of drizzling rain, blue skies with little puffy white clouds gliding across our landscape gave us a beautiful day. What a joy! The park was also busy as today is the first day of half-term and children will be at home for a week. The playground was packed and the paths around the lakes were hosting happy families and eager dogs.
The mediaeval poet Geoffrey Chaucer saw Valentine’s Day as the first day of spring as he described the birdsong that calls all ‘fowles’ to mate in the Parlement of Fowles. And indeed, signs of spring are all around us now in Kelsey Park.
Snowdrops and crocuses, daffodils and early blossoms are bringing colour back. Buds are swelling on the magnolias, and catkins are dripping from the trees. Camelias are in full flower, and in a muddy bog garden, the beautiful water buttercups are breaking out. The primulas in our formal bedding areas are expanding and the natural grasses were today backlit by the surprising sunlight.
The sun caught the rich red stems of lakeside shrubs, and the formal roses in our rose garden are breaking out with new foliage.
Chaucer might have been a little early with his first day of spring, but Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away from the accepted official start of spring — the beginning of March here in the United Kingdom. The days are getting lighter, and hopefully, when it shines the sun is getting just a little bit stronger.
Birds are pairing up, and despite the uprooting of two poplar trees on Heron Island, probably caused by our exceptionally wet ground, the nests are increasing and the sentinels guarding.
I can also report that work is now well underway in the building of the new bridge at the juncture of the upper lake and the River Beck.
I close with a Valentine’s message for one and all:
Love is in the air… Birds are calling to find their mates… Daffodils are blooming as the heralds of spring… On Tuesday, in many parts of the world there will be carnivals and pancakes in feasting before the Lenten fast leading to Easter, rebirth and the resurrection of all life… As the Christos taught, ‘Love each other as I have loved you… Love your neighbour as yourself.’ In just two weeks, it will officially be the first day of spring. What is there not to love? Love brings harmony and joy to the world. Love precious humanity. A Happy Valentine’s Day to all.