Nature to inspire during the Winter months
Nature to inspire during the Winter months
Whilst there may not seem as though there is much to be inspired by outside at the moment, there is actually plenty of nature to find and appreciate during these late winter months if you look a little closer. In my Celebrating Winter course we are focusing on exactly this, looking a little deeper to find pops of colour with rose hip buds, catkins, berried ivy, hellebores and even some early blooming daffodils, blossom and snowdrops. It’s not just the more colourful nature that can spark inspiration but the shapes, textures and movement of dried grasses, interesting branches and trailing dried clematis which is one of my favourites in the Winter, it’s perfectly frothy, magical and wonderfully wild…
I also think that Winter nature is a lot more subtle than what we see in the other seasons, Spring bursts through with yellows, pinks and blues, Summer is full of magentas, bright and punchy colours and deep jewel tones and Autumn provides a vivid array of oranges, yellows, reds and browns, so it is really easy to see how Winter nature can be overlooked. However, over the next few weeks, I urge you to head out on a walk and embrace the magic to be found in mid-winter, especially during these frosty mornings, it is truly beautiful to see the sun glisten across a cloak of frost or find a cluster of colour amongst the dried branches.
Tips for finding inspiration
Here are some tips I’ve shared with my Celebrating winter group when looking for inspiration on a Winter Walk…
Use your senses and embrace not only what you can see but also stop to listen, touch, and feel. Note these down on your phone and capture an image to reflect back on when journaling.
Explore levels, look up to the sky and see what is above you and look at foot level below the hedgerow and in the bushes to find new shoots and ground-level foliage and flowers.
Wrap up warm, take a flask of tea with you and find a sitting spot - this is a place on a regular walk you can return to and note how nature changes each time you visit.
Look for interesting shapes and textures rather than automatically searching for colour, think about the dried nature, bare branches with shoots appearing, skyline shapes and silhouettes.
Gather a collection of foraged finds from your walk to bring home and a nature journal your findings, look for things that make YOU feel joyful.
And mostly remember to embrace this season, it is a wonderful time to reflect nature itself by slowing down and creating mindfully with no rush or expectation.