Winter reminds me of the Greek myth about Persephone, the beautiful daughter of gods Demeter and Zeus.

Persephone was picking flowers when Hades, God of the underworld, saw her and took her to be his bride.

When Demeter, goddess of the earth and harvest, discovered what happened, she was beside herself. She cursed the earth. Plants withered and died.

Long story short, since Persephone had eaten six seeds of a pomegranate, she had to spend six months of the year in the underworld with Hades but could return to earth for the remainder of the year.

Demeter brought the earth back to life each spring when Persephone reemerged, hence the origin of our seasons.

I look forward to the return of spring and the liberation of Persephone, but winter has its own charms.

Falling snow creates a magic all its own. Layers of snowflakes transform barren trees, shrubs, stems, and stalks giving them a unique beauty. Winterberry bushes and holly trees provide a backdrop of green and red to landscapes while untrimmed switchgrasses provide soft stalks that soften the edges. Pines and evergreen magnolias offer a welcome touch of green and shelter for wildlife.

Continue reading Winter: A Time for Beauty and Work →