When I saw this one lone daffodil in the midst of an entire bed of still-dormant stalks, it moved me in a way that I find difficult to explain. All of the other plants around it had yet to bloom. This tiny, sole flower of the bunch struck me as a symbol of hope: a sign of warmer weather and more joyous days to come, even as winter continues to show every sign of hanging on until the bitter end in my part of the world.

Equinox: The Return of the Light

I briefly discussed how the seasons can have a dramatic effect on my mood in my last post (which was all about a sudden burst of snowfall that hit Dublin on Sunday). I don't have a formal diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I have long been aware that something within me reacts to the gradual, monthly changes in temperature and daylight to a degree that seems a little strange to many people I know. Yesterday, I was bustling about – doing this, that and the other, finishing household chores, carrying on with everything that has to be done in everyday life – but there was a subtle undertone of euphoria to everything I thought and did throughout the day, because I was just thrilled about the spring equinox. I love this time of year because it represents such a major turning point towards the return of the light, and I also know the clocks will soon go forward at this time of the year, bringing an extra hour of sunshine each evening.

The fact that the sun was shining brightly (a fairly uncommon occurrence in Ireland) definitely added to my sense of glee. At one point, I took a walk in the National Botanic Gardens near my house, despite the fact that I had a mountain of work to do. I felt such a powerful urge to be out there in the sunshine – revelling in every single moment of it – rather than sitting at my desk. My work did eventually get done – just a little later than I had intended. 😉

I wanted to share these photographs I took yesterday. There were a few moments when I felt compelled to take a picture, but for the most part, I kept the phone in my pocket and simply enjoyed the beauty of my surroundings.

This picture of the Botanic Gardens' famous greenhouse was taken from an identical angle to the very snowy one I shared on Monday. What a difference two days can make!
The rose garden remains devoid of flowers, for now...
...but its time to bloom draws ever closer.

As I approached my favourite tree in the gardens, I saw that there had been a recent felling in the area. I momentarily panicked, thinking it was the one I loved ... but luckily, that was not the case. My favourite tree is on the left.
The reason I love that particular tree so much is because in one little hollow, there is a feature that looks as though it could be the face of a little elf, peering out at the world around him.
Can you see it? ❤️

I recently joined a great community called #ecotrain – an amazing place to talk about life, sustainability, nature and related issues! The Discord link is here.