From Brown to Wow

Winter in Central Europe can be quite demanding. Especially, when the sky remains grey for several days in a row (or weeks in some parts) and the vegetation does not add much colour, either, as it comes in fifty shades of brown.

While last winter was one of the darkest ever, this one is gentler on us. As a matter of fact, it is quite the opposite as we are spoiled with so much sunshine that February broke records for the amount of it in Switzerland.

Either way, the awakening of nature is something many of us long for. Nature so wonderfully shows us the circle of life, the rhythm of the seasons, and the alternation of quiet rest and powerful growth, don’t you think?

Looking down to the ground is therefore worthwhile right now, because it is that time of the year when the brown soil turns into a wow. The wonder does not last long, however, so I would like to share with you what can be marveled at on a stroll, a bike ride to work, or on a sneak peak into other people’s gardens ;-).

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Surely, you all know snowdrops! But what about spring snowflakes that are not made of snow as the word spring in their name may suggest?

Schneeglöckchen – as their German name goes – may cover many square meters with their fresh green and white as early as January.

Snowdrops close up

Spring snowflakes (German: Märzenglöckchen) are slightly different. Can you see it?

Spring snowflake – Märzenglöckchen – Leucojum vernum

Of course, it is not all green and white. What if we added some more colours?

Wow! Purple, orange and green combined in this crocus.

Don’t you want to bathe in these beautiful colours?

Close-up

and they grow just wherever

Literally from brown to wow

A white one

Whoa! Don’t you want to literally sit into this crocus and take a nap? It must be a bee’s heaven. Yes, they are already on the fly. At least the honeybees and I saw the first bumblebee just yesterday.

Imagine a whole garden full of them…

Hopefully this inspires you to look around you – or down in that case – and rather leave your phone in the bag more often. There is so much you can spot in places you may not have thought. Enjoy this unique time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and I wish you happy exploring!

Want some more of that spring fever? Then visit Spring is coming.
You are a flower lover? You may want to check out this Flower Bouquet then.

Have you enjoyed these photographs and the post? Then please give me a shout-out in the comments and spread the word. Thank you so much!