voiceless,mountain depths,
to herald spring,
pine trees sound in tune.
~ Princess Shikishi
Wishing all a Happy Groundhog Day and to our English friends and family, Happy Candlemas Day.
Feb. 2 may be Groundhog Day in this country, but in England it is Candlemas Day, 40 days after Christmas. Folklore in that country holds: "If Candlemas Day bring snow and rain, winter is gone and won't come again. If Candelmas Day be clear and bright, winter will have another flight."
Personally, I tend to look to the Forsythia for my weather forecast as to how close we are to the much anticipated springtime. I remember without fail, every year when the Forsythia bushed out in bright yellow blooms my mother would say, "Three more snows after the Forsythia blooms." I don't recall that ever being wrong. There are many that refer to these little sayings as 'Garden Folklore'. Perhaps they are, but then again perhaps not. There is a reason why these little sayings got started in the first place other than boredom or someone just wanting to say something that was way out there. How many people check out those little caterpillars in the fall to see how furry they are or how wide the brown band is on the Bear Worm? I also prune my rose bushes while the forsythia is in bloom. Every year those bushes grow big and strong and produce beautiful roses and lots of them.
While you are waiting to hear if Phil sees his shadow I will leave you with this little poem:
To the Groundhog
Will you
Won't you
See your shadow?
Will it
Won't it
Really matter?
Do you
Don't you
Grin to see
People Take you Seriously?
