It is early February and the Northern Hemisphere is in the grip of Winter. 
The deciduous trees at Stourhead are bereft of their leaves and even though the grounds are not covered in snow and ice there is a cold wind blowing, but the carpets of Snowdrops are a reminder that Spring is not far away and the grey landscape is punctuated by the branches of the Red Twigged Dogwood on the island in the lake.