Interaction between the camera lens and the sun’s rays has sent rainbows tumbling from the top right. I’m not sure if that’s a feature or a flaw… perhaps a bit of both.
Pockets of snowdrops are barely distinguishable from the snow at first glance but, once your eye tunes in, they seem illuminated like tiny, ankle-high lamps. Long, narrow tree shadows accentuate the ray effect while the shade and golden rays together capture that feeling of warmth and exposure we Northerners associate with winter… the lucky ones, that is, who have the means of keeping warm.
I have seen quite a few snowdrops already in 2020 but not anywhere near as magnificent as these, taken during a previous year’s visit to Dunham Massey’s splendid winter garden.
I’m not sure whether twilight or spotlight is most appropriate as I share this for Becky’s JanuarySquares. As part of the challenge, I’ve learned a new hyphenated word, ‘owl-light’, a poetic way of saying ‘dusk’. I’d guess that this is an hour or so too early for that, but if you have an appropriate picture, I’d love to see it!
Susan Rushton 
Look at that. So cool. These ones were planted, but do they grow naturally in forests there?
They naturalise when they are happy, but I have a feeling they do need to be planted to start them off where I live. I could be wrong. Bluebells spring up naturally, but they’re a few months later.
The first snowdrops are up in my garden this week, but they are few in number, since I just planted them this fall. I hope they like their location and spread! What a beautiful photo, Susan!
Thank you. I hope so too!
So, so, so very beautiful. I was transported and shivered.
Luckily you can soon warm up from an imaginary shiver. 🙂
Magnificent is right! I cannot recall ever having seen a snowdrop. I am told they bloom in Maine, but they are not common. At least not where I live. Lucky you to have first snowdrops and then bluebells to look forward to.
The snowdrops are easy to overlook. You learn to go around looking for them over garden walls and underneath bushes.
Lovely
Thanks, Derrick.
I love the effect of the light – gives a lot of depth to the photo and a lovely feel too.
There’s a ‘The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe’ feel to it.
Very pretty. I want to walk that!
It’s a nice winter garden with all the usual ingredients.
A perfect winter scene – looks cold, but it’s heart warming!
You can almost feel a scarf round your neck and woolly gloves on your hands as you look at it.
Oh my gosh, look at all those snowdrops! I’m out-of-town right now, but this makes me want to rush right home and check for snowdrops in our garden – the weather is supposed to get very mild next week.
Safe travels! I hope there will be a snowdrop or two (or twenty) to welcome you home.