Embracing Late Winter: Signs of Spring and Seasonal Reflections

The shift between seasons never happens overnight. Even as winter clings on with its chilly grip and stark, bare branches, there are hints—small, quiet whispers—that change is on the way. Late winter is a time for pausing, for noticing, for embracing the subtle stirrings of the world around us as it gently leans towards spring.

The First Signs of Spring

Winter still lingers, but nature is already beginning to stir. On my daily walks, I’ve started spotting the first brave snowdrops pushing their way through the frost-hardened earth. Their delicate white heads nod gently in the breeze—a sure sign that winter’s hold is beginning to wane. The hellebores, too, are starting to bloom in their dusky purples and soft creams, adding muted beauty to an otherwise stark landscape.

Birdsong, once quiet through the darker months, is slowly building. Blackbirds and robins seem to sing with more confidence, their melodies cutting through the crisp morning air. I’ve noticed them darting between hedgerows, gathering twigs and bits of moss—early preparations for the nesting season ahead.

There’s something different in the air, too—sharper, fresher, carrying the first hints of earthiness as the ground slowly begins to thaw. The trees, still bare, are showing signs of life, their buds swelling, waiting for the moment to unfurl into new green leaves.

A Time for Reflection and Preparation

This in-between time of late winter is one I treasure. It’s a chance to savour the last cosy evenings by the fire, warm drink in hand, with a favourite book or a knitting project keeping my hands busy. But it’s also a time of gentle preparation—both indoors and out.

There is much I want to do in the garden at this time, like clearing away winter’s debris and making space for the new season’s growth. I'm itching to start sowing seeds but I know that it is just a matter of weeks before we pack up our house for our move to the country. 

Indoors, there’s an urge to refresh the space, to throw open the windows when the weather allows, to declutter and welcome in the increasing light. Fortunatly this urge fits in well with packing boxes and purging excess!

My Nature Journal: Documenting the Season

In years gone by, one of my favourite ways to mark these seasonal shifts is through my nature journal. Taking time to record what I see, hear, and feel connects me more deeply to the world outside my door. 

However, I have to admit that the end of our homeschooling days caused a huge disruptive shift in my life. I know that in life, seasons change, things come to an end, new avenues are explored and new rythms established. But it is far to easy to lose the essence of who you are in the search for a new 'normal'. 

As I scrolled through my Instagram account, archiving all my yarn posts as I wrap up that chapter of my life, it struck me how much of what I loved, much of which I wrote about and shared on this blog over the years, had fallen by the wayside... like broken twigs and plant debris after a storm. 

Somehow I slipped out of the habit of noticing the 'little things' and recording them in the pages of my nature journal which was always a source of peace and joy over the years. I determined then and there to unwrap my new watercolour palette purchased 2 years ago (I know, shocking!) and to go back to weekly journal entries.

I was a little nervous actually, would I still be able to draw and paint? Would it feel awkward? 

Well, it felt a little clumsey but overall I was quite happy with the results and I have to say that I have loved getting back into a daily habit of getting outside and paying close attention to what is happening around me.

Below, I’m sharing a recent journal entry, capturing snippets of January. 

In making the decision to be more intentional in my daily living and in this case, my journaling, I was tempted to start a brand new journal. My last entry was in 2022 and I quite like new fresh starts when it comes to notebooks and journals but, it struck me that seeing the stark 3 year gap in my journal is a good reminder to hold on to those things that matter and not let the sands of time run through the hourglass unheeded.

If you keep a nature journal, this is the perfect time to start a fresh page—recording the small but significant shifts that signal the changing season. Have you spotted the first blossoms? Noticed an increase in birdsong? Felt the change in the air?

Welcoming the Light Ahead

As February begins to slip away and March approaches, the promise of spring feels more tangible. There’s excitement in the longer days, in the warmth that will soon return, in the slow but sure awakening of the natural world.

How are you experiencing this seasonal shift? I’d love to hear about the signs of spring you’ve noticed—do share in the comments or in your own nature journal!