This weeks theme for the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is “Winter”
The theme “Winter” conjured up so many different images in my mind’s eye that I pondered on my choice of photograph for several days. Should I post a picture depicting typical winter weather such as frost or snow, or should I remove all preconceived boundaries, “look outside the box”, so to speak, and think of something completely different?
Different in what way?
Finally, unable to decide which photo to use I cheated and selected two subjects; both winter related, but in different ways.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen so many bees in January before; they are everywhere. Maybe the bees are more active this winter because the weather is warmer and drier. Maybe the farmers are not spraying their crops with pesticides at the moment – or maybe I’m now more “tuned” into nature and bee “activity”. Who knows? but they are buzzing around everywhere – maybe it’s spring and I’ve slept through winter!

Curiosity got the better of me so I searched the web “Where do bees go in winter?” for the answer…
My strawberry plants are still producing an abundance of enormous sweet strawberries in January. This is a first! Strawberries have never grown in my garden at this time of the year. This ripe strawberry is just one of many. They are not even undercover.
Guess what I had for dessert tonight?

I don’t ever remember bees in January here! The strawberries look deeelicious! It’s always so interesting to see what life is like in January is far-away places!
I enjoyed your approach to “Winter.” We all need to spend more time “looking outside the box”! 🙂
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Thanks LTF,
Winter can be such a dreary time. This year has been a great surprise so why not celebrate!
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I’m sad about the dead bees, but not the wasps! Thanks for answering that question for me.
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A couple of years back we had a BIG problem no bees. Well at least where we were. I then read an article by chance on the web, as yu do, that there was a serious decline in bees…
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A nice ‘take’ on the subject and great photos.
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The weather has been milder here too and we are seeing shots poking their heads out and the occasional bloom… Global warming is here for sure. 😉
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Hi Eliz,
Other years we have had continual rain for weeks…and they put that down to climate change. This year no rain!
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Love the photos…the strawberry looks delicious. Having a mild winter here..now Jan and not a snow drop yet….Since I am not one who likes the cold..its wonderful to see all of this sunshine.. !! 🙂
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Hi Penny sunshine certainly makes us feel better. It seems to recharge our batteries!
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What wonderful winter surprises. Nothing like that around here. Beautiful pictures. Hugs
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Hugs Mumsy…I bet you do have some winter suprises 🙂
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I walked down my garden yesterday and my rosemary had one little flower opened on it, not bad for the UK, loved your picture, Given up on strawberries and other edible produce, the bugs beat me! From when I read your blog when you were starting in the garden till now – what wonders you have done.Mx
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This year winter seems like spring!
To be hones WA I’ve had more disasters than I have success, but I keep plodding on discovering what grows and what doesn’t!
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Morning PIP…strawberries in winter?
We get ours in summer.
Every year,since we arrived in Cape Town,I have threatened to go strawberry picking and I never did….now it is too late!
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Grow your own Granny..you can grow them in pots!
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From snow-covered France to strawberries – wow! Happy New Year.
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Happy New Year!
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Thank goodness for bees…without them there wouldn’t be those wonderfully delicious strawberries.
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We have so many at the moment I hope they continue to visit my garden 🙂
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Great photos of winter! I live in the north of Portugal and also do a blog on things that I love here! Thank you.
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Hi Portugal untouched what is your blog name? You need to amend your profile to include this 🙂
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These are lovely winter photographs. The colours are great – so bright and crisp – as though the temperature is chilly even though the colours ate warm. Is / was it cold? Im amazed you have strawberries this early!
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Hi Sammy Dee, the tmeperatures vary from 3C at night to 22C during the day. I ahve loads more strawberries on the way!
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Scrummy yummy strawberries, just the photo makes my mouth water.
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Beautiful winter pictures!!
I’ve lived in Southern Germany now for the past seven winters and this is the first time it’s been green outside and sometimes above zero degrees at this time of the year. Perhaps your bees are a sign of a change in the weather this year.
Have you been having terrible storms too?
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No, we’ve escaped the storms at the moment, thank goodness.
The bees are certainly very active!
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I’m so glad you shared something out of “the box”. The box can be an awfully cramped and uncomfortable place to be. Your photos have offered me a lovely escape.
Happy New Year!
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There are too many bounderies in life. Burn the box!
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Are you really in winter? 😆 We are is summer: sunburn, mozzies and flies in abundance. Love the strawberry photo, it is gorgeous!
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Oh yes, def winter. It’s coooold at night. We also have an abundance of mozzies as well 😦
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Lovely pictures Pip and perfect choice for the week’s theme. It has surprisedd me that bees and strawberries can exist in Winter. Portugal is full of surprises.
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Hi Clara,
It ahs certainly surprised me! Other winters have ben so wet we have nearly drowned in the rain!
Portugal is def full of surprises 🙂
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This is certainly an alternative take on winter. These pictures look like spring, or even summer to me, guess I should move to Portugal. Great pictures though 🙂
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Hi Lian,
Yep, it actually feels more like spring than winter.
8:
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Love the strawberry picture. I´m still waiting for my lonely strawberry plant to give us a few berries. Coming along…but very slowly.
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Hi Sami, it probably needs some company!
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Great shots PiP! That strawberry is very tempting!
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Hello, I just started following the Blog, and I am confused. Great photos; where were the photos taken? In Portugul, I would like to know so I can target my travels. Andy Graham of HoboTraveler.com
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Hi Andy,
Yes, the photos were taken in the Algarve. Temps are around 18C-20C during the day and maybe down as low as 3C at night. We don’t have frost near the sea.
PiP
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Very cool shots.
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beautiful strawberries – lovely
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Bees and strawberries in January! It is a strange winter, that’s for sure! (Beautiful photos, by the way!) 🙂
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Hi terri,
it certainly is a strange winter this year. The veg are also going crazy!
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Lovely pictures, PiP. I’m especially fond of the strawberry. It’s gorgeous!
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Maybe you can grow some when you move to the hideaway in the woods 🙂
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Fahrenheit (sp).
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I’m so glad you didn’t post snow or frost, PiP! That perfect strawberry started my salivary glands and they won’t quit! How attractive is that? I need a bib.
I’m pleased that we reached a high of zero Fahenheit/ -17c, good enough for a dog walk. And now, dreams of bees and strawberries. Sigh… didn’t I say I liked Alaska?
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Hi Jan,
Yes, the strawberries were/are delicious! There are so many in flower now I am already looking forward to a feast!
I loved Alaska and the snow, but would not love the lack of sun and the continued cold. I would die in those temperatures!
🙂
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I love your winter outside the box. The bees are great. What a tasty looking strawberry. Yum! Talk about winter being enchanting and magical and delicious, your photos are awesome (and makes me so homesick for gardening season) Thanks for sharing your refreshing different view of winter in your warm and lovely part of the world. 🙂
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Hi EC,
The weather is brilliant here at the moment! so the insects and flowers are in overdrive!
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