I was devastated this morning when we pulled open our front blinds to find this beautiful little house sparrow upside down in the snow on our porch. I can’t imagine for the life of me how this poor creature ended up in such a predicament. I decided to pick it up with a spade and take it into a far corner of the back garden and place it under the cedar boughs and a pile of snow so that it will be returned to the earth in time. I couldn’t stand the thought of double bagging it and putting it out with the rubbish.
I then got to thinking about birds in folklore and different cultures. It seems that traditionally, the death of a bird is a sign of new beginnings, an omen of renewal. There are lots of varying thoughts, but I like this one the best.
These birch branches, from an old dead tree that our neighbour took down in the late Fall were saved and going to become part of my winter planters this year. The planters froze before I had a chance to get them installed. Birch trees are my favourite and I just loved the way these birch poles are lying quietly covered in a dusting of snow in a sheltered spot until they can become part of the garden again.
Hearts are another favourite symbol. I know you’ve seen my ‘love is in the tree’ before but it seemed fitting to take a photograph of it once again today in memory of my ‘wee speug’ friend that died today, rest in love little birdie.
