Day 11: Connecting with nature to improve my wellbeing in the dark days of winter, by spotting my hyacinth bulbs shooting—sign that spring will come (we just have to hold on in there).
This Wednesday evening is relatively calm after Storm Darragh but cold (the sort of cold that has a bite to it!). The variation in the temperature and weather during these December evenings I’m slowly coming to appreciate, even if my reynards meant my fingers went a bit white this evening.. Tonight, I ventured into the garden wrapped in my warmest coat and my Christmas bobble hat determined to find a little joy in the outdoors despite the approaching the darkest days of the year.
I was wandering around with my torch, around the pots near the house. Suddenly, I had a glimpse of something that made my heart skip—a cluster of green tips poking through the soil in one of my pots. My hyacinth bulbs are shooting! It might seem like such a small thing, but in the depths of winter, those tiny shoots feel like a promise: spring will come. Like, little green noses poking up through the soil – sniffing for for the scent of the season yet to come.
Hyacinths always remind me and my husband of the 1990s British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances. This also brought a smile to my face this evening!
The Magic of Bulbs
Hyacinths are not my favorite Spring flower, but their heady scent and cheerful blooms make them a stalwart in the garden each Spring. I planted these bulbs back in the autumn, tucking them into pots & the mini wild flower meadow and imagining how beautiful they’d look in a few months. I know they won’t flower until late winter or early spring, but seeing those little green tips tonight filled me with hope. In fact I have planted over 500 bulbs in the past couple of months; for me it is planting hope.
Bulbs are incredible when you think about it—little bundles of botanical potential, lying dormant underground until the conditions are just right. They quietly sleep through the coldest months, waiting for the conditions to be just right to trigger their growth. Seeing those first shoots reminds me that even when everything feels still and lifeless, change is happening beneath the surface.
A Sign of Things to Come
As I crouched by the pot, shining my torch on the tiny green shoots, I felt a wave of joy and excitement. Winter can feel endless, but these shoots are a reminder that the wheel of the year keeps turning. Slowly but surely, we’re edging closer to the light and life of spring. Our planet is orbiting the sun and soon the tilt of its’ axis will mean that we feel the sun’s warmth on our faces once more.
Growing Hyacinths at Home
If you haven’t grown hyacinths before, they’re surprisingly easy to care for. Plant the bulbs in autumn in well-drained soil, either in pots or directly in the ground. They like a bit of cold to encourage flowering, so leaving them outdoors during winter is perfect. Bulbs usually do not like being sat in water. So I tuck mine away near the wall of the house so they are sheltered from the worse of the winter rain (of which we have lots in Devon, England). If you’ve planted them keep an eye out for those first signs of growth—there’s nothing quite like spotting those green tips on a cold December night!
Finding Joy in the Small Signs
This December challenge has been a wonderful gift, to myself. On nights like this, when the darkness and cold can feel overwhelming, it’s a comfort to step outside and find these small but powerful signs of life. My hyacinth bulbs shooting might seem insignificant, but they’ve lifted my spirits and reminded me that brighter days are ahead. Spring is on it’s way – it must be the plants can sense it!
I hope my little blogs encourage you to head outdoors this winter and connect with the natural world. Whether it’s a snail, a patch of moss, or the first shoots of spring bulbs, there’s so much to discover—even in the darkest days.