I didn’t know about Groundhog Day…

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.

37 thoughts on “I didn’t know about Groundhog Day…”

    1. 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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  9. 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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  11. 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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