until I saw the film and, even then, it didn’t make much sense to me. We don’t have groundhogs in the UK and, these days, particularly where I live, not so much snow, for which I am grateful! What we do have is snowdrops, one of the signs of spring on which I know I can rely.
Last Friday was our anniversary and we went for a walk in the grounds of Heydon Hall, followed by lunch at the Heydon Tearoom. It was a chilly day, but walking kept us warm. I was delighted to see a carpet of snowdrops. But even more exciting were the many sparrowhawks circling the trees, which reminded me that farmers need to be alert to birds of prey at this time of year, when lambs and calves are born.
I suppose Friday was an early Groundhog Day, as we went to Heydon last year too.
A chilly wind blows,
a threat to waxy droplets—
hot chocolate awaits
Kim M. Russell, 2nd February 2026
At the dVerse Poets Pub it’s the first Haibun Monday of February, and Frank has presented us with a Groundhog Day Redux.
He tells us there are about seventeen inches of snow in New York, single-digit windchill and overnight temperatures, which made me shiver – and cars with snow up to their windows!
Frank is looking for a prediction of early spring, and asks us to celebrate an American, weather-predicting holiday: Groundhog Day! He has summarised what Groundhog Day is all about as well as giving us some poetic examples to inspire haibun alluding to Groundhog Day.
writing in north norfolk 
We still have snow here, but no groundhogs (and I never saw the film)… but we are halfway between winter solstice and equinox which calls for some celebration… love the snowdrops but they are still many weeks ahead…
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Thanks Björn. I see more and more signs of spring here. There are catkins everywhere. But apparently we will getting some more snow, we just don’t know when.
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Love snowdrops! And your haibun
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Thank you, Catherin!
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YUM… Thanks for the share, Kim.
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Glad you liked it, Ron.
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What a lovely walk among snowdrops and sparrowhawks…Happy Anniversary, Kim!
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Thank you, Lynn!
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Snow drops are so beautiful – I am glad they were a carpet for your celebration – Jae
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I love how your celebrations were made even more special by the snowdrops – Jae
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Thank you, Jae.
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Nicely done. Perhaps you will need to have hedgehog day! :>)
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Thanks Dwight. A hedgehog day! I’m waiting for the geese to return.
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Ha ha… It won’t be long.
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Groundhogs are useful only as weather prognosticators—and even then, only 40% of the time. Happy to see you enjoying signs of spring, Kim!
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Thank you, Frank!
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I think they are airing that movie today on TV. I tend to not rely on a groundhog for spring’s arrival. I look for signs of birds returning or warmer days. During winter hawks are often seen circling.
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I agree, birds are a much better predictor of spring, Truedessa.
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Happy Anniversary or early Groundhog’s Day. 😁
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Thanks Stew!
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Snowdrops are lovely. I adore their droopy heads that seem deep in prayer and reverence for seeing another spring on the horizon. Your haibun is most lovely too. We ARE closer to spring now for sure. Thanks Kim
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Thank you so much, Selma. I’m looking forward to blossoms and flowers.
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I love to imagine the snowdrops, and also the hot chocolate.
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Heydon is a beautiful little village, it’s at the end of a road and no traffic passes through. You have to know it’s there. The tearoom has won awards.
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Nice write Kim. 🙂
Neither do we in the Pacific Northwest. We have a cousin, the Hoary marmot — which we call whistle pigs because of a noise they make.
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Thank you, Rob, You have some fascinating animals in the U.S.
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Luv that the snowdrops are blossoming for you
Thanks for dropping by my blog
much love
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Thanks Gillena, and much love to you!
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I think I’ll also have hot chocolate now. Nice haibun, Kim!
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Thank you,. Jay. Enjoy your hot chocolate!
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Flowers and birds tend to be the reliable harbingers. A delightful haibun!
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Thank you!
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Beautiful haibun, Kim
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Thanks Lisa.
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So glad you saw the birds of spring!
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Snowdrops, thank you for evocation, I miss these little beauties a carpet so snow like.
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I love them, almost as much as tulips.
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