Monday, January 24, 2011

Embracing Winter... *and more!


Caution: You are about to enter THE FREEZING ZONE. 
(You will find no Spring here.)


It's Winter in my gardens...still.
And I am embracing it's beauty! 
(But maybe not so much the frigid air.)



"The name "winter" comes from an old Germanic word meaning "time of water" and refers to the seasonal precipitation. The winter solstice—the moment when the sun's apparent path is farthest south from the equator—is used to officially mark winter's beginning. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter begins on the "shortest day" of the year, which most frequently falls on December 21, but occasionally occurs on December 22. Winter lasts until the vernal, or spring, equinox--equal night--around March 20, thus marking the beginning of spring when day and night are equal in length." 
                                                 From the Library of Congress



Began on December 21st
Ends on March 20th

Yes, it is officially Winter in my part of the world and will be until mid-March. As we get closer, I may get a little giddy about the emerging Spring. Spring tends to do that to us. But for now, it is Winter in my gardens, and I am totally embracing it's beauty.


Spring comes soon enough. Well, in theory it does. I must admit there are years when Old Man Winter wants to linger longer than we'd like and sometimes reappears at the oddest times. Last year, for example, when my gardens were covered by a surprise snowfall in May.  But it only lasted for a day or so as it warmed up again very quickly. Weather in Utah often holds surprises... one of the reasons why I love it here.

So don't expect to see a countdown to Spring mentioned here. We celebrate all the seasons and it's Winter's turn to sparkle and shine.

Here's the *and more!

You may notice a change in my name. Meredehuit has been my screen name since I entered the blogging world. In French it means "Mother of Eight", which I proudly am.  But I've decided it's time to embrace my given name... Carolyn.

Carolyn... that just sounds right to me. 



18 comments:

  1. hello Carolyn, some beautiful chrisp photos, keep warm, Frances

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  2. I love these photos and I too am embracing winter though not as postively as you are...but you are right and spring comes soon enough...and I have miles to go before it arrives and so much to do to prepare....thx for the wonderful reminder although it is 20 below here :)

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  3. Hi Carolyn,
    I, like many others, were surprised to see Meredehuit missing from your comment. I can tell by the lovely photographs that it is you though. Beautiful frozen foliage.

    Maybe if I spoke French, I would have caught on. I do think it makes a pretty name.

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  4. Hi Carolyn!
    great photos - snow and ice are lovely (at least for a while...)

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  5. Those frozen leaves are wonderful. The beauty of snow and ice is amazing, but I can't even begin to imagine what it feels like.

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  6. Dear Carolyn, What magical wintry images you show here. I agree that it is good to celebrate each season for its particular beauty rather than wishing it away all too quickly.

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  7. Creative photos. Glad your showing Winters good side.
    Odd.. always think of winter solice as the day to sow outdoors and everyday(day light) gets shorter till summer. Never realize it's when it's equal.

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  8. LOL, I thought your real name was "Mother of Eight"! Haha. Should've googled Meredehuit, I guess. Had no clue I was lookin' at French there.

    I'm thinkin' I should stop calling this season winter here, as our *dryest* months are from December to May here in peninsular Florida. Perhaps we should call "winter" that period from June to September when all the precipitation falls. ;-/

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  9. Hello Carolyn, of course, now I get it! Mere de huit. Beautiful photos. I love winter, too. The only bad part is that there is simply less hands-on work in the garden.

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  10. Carolyn, thanks for the lesson on winter solstice and spring. It's great to see that you are appreciating garden beauty even in winter.

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  11. Beautiful images, and I think you are so right to celebrate the ALL seasons. I've been thinking a lot recently about how impatient we gardeners tend to get and how we may then miss out on the space, the pause, and the beauty, that winter provides. Thank you for the reminder - though it is harder to remember when outside is damp and grey rather than frosty and sparkly!

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  12. Hi Carolyn! your photos are lovely and it looks as if you have ice crystals on your plants. Beauty really is in all 4 seasons if we look for it.

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  13. Carolyn, I am kind of partial to the name Carolyn myself and was really wondering when I saw your photo with Carolyn next to it. We may get confused but who wouldn't want to use Carolyn. Lovely winter photos. Carolyn

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  14. Oh, oh my goodness. The photos are amazing although I am enjoying our 60 something degrees here in North Florida.....here's hoping for an Early Spring!

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  15. Carolyn! Lovely to know your name although I've just gotten to where I spell Meredehuit with confidence! Your winter is beautiful and absolutely deserves to be embraced...your winter shots are so beautifully composed and enjoyable.

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  16. Incredible what winter can do. But still how beautiful is regardless

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  17. Hi Carolyn! You are so right to embrace winter. In your part of the country it is really more beautiful than the winter here in the South. I try hard to enjoy it but I'll admit it is my least favorite of all the seasons. I can only take so much of brown, cold (usually without snow) and generally dull. But your photographs and views are spectacular in winter! Thanks for sharing them.

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  18. I'm so glad to see you embrace your given name, Carolyn -- although I also think Meredehuit is lovely and meaningful. You'll always be both to me. :)

    I have trouble embracing winter as I should. When it warmed up to springlike temps this weekend (freakish highs of 63-65 degrees), I was outside as much as I could, back injury notwithstanding, just to soak up the warmth and hints of color. I love your photos -- and your enthusiastic embrace -- of the more subtle beauty of this season!

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