There isn't really a lot to commend winter, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder but winter drags on too long and, like a house guest after two weeks, can overstay its welcome. The first snowfall in November or December is serene, quiet, lovely to see the snow lined branches of trees, and even a big snowfall (let's say 20 cm) isn't all that bad, not if you're at home, don't have to go out, and can enjoy quiet time during the falling snow. What is not fun, pleasant, happy, serene, meditative is how our winters drag on into late March and sometimes even early April; four of five months of winter is just too much. A three month winter, from first snowfall to the snow melting, is about all many of us can stand.
Here is my Canadian cottage garden in early March this year. I gave up even walking back there two months ago, previously I would go for a walk and then, arriving home, I'd check out the backyard. We miss the diversity of summer, the colours of flowers, the many plants, birds singing, insects, and then we surrender all of this to winter. "Mon pays c'est l'hiver" sang Gilles Vigneault, but it's not my country.
