February Blues

dewdrop blue, originally uploaded by A.p.K.
This time of year can feel a bit like limbo – with each new glimpse of warmer spring weather, a sizable snow storm or cold week of rain becomes a dreary seasonal setback. The coastal California climate is remarkably mild, and our winters tend to be full of green pastures and wind-battered trees. Spring shows itself in small bursts of wildflowers, which emerge after even the shortest spell of warm sunny days. Often this colorful respite is short-lived, as the inclement weather returns for weeks at a time. Sometimes laying down in the muddy dampness of a February field is the only way to get close enough to truly believe these fleeting signs of the shifting season…