“She’s a tough, old girl.” For me this phrase defines some of the Suffolk ladies I grew up to admire. They are strong but kind. They speak sense in a straight forward way. They do not fuss about their appearance but they are always neat and tidy. They usually survived the war with a stoic attitude and a make-do-and-mend ethos. …
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The Helleborus is a tough, old girl
Dandelion – a Flower of Sustenance
The dandelion is a flower of sustenance. If only we would allow it, it can feed us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Over the last few months of the pandemic the dandelions grew and flowered. These were months of lock down, daily walks and time to think. Now, in June the seed heads are forming and, just like those downy, parachute…
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The meaning of Daffodils during Lockdown
Like a fanfare, daffodils herald the spring, new joy and cheerfulness in our lives. They shout for joy! They remind us that we are stronger together. If someone is fighting depression this is a good flower to show them to encourage them to share their feelings. This was such an apt flower to have been flowering just before we began…
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Snowdrops on Candlemas Day
“The snowdrop, in purest white array, first rears her head on Candlemas Day.” Snowdrops are known as Candlemas Bells Candlemas day is 2nd February and it is true that it was this weekend that I first saw a carpet of snowdrops. One of their common names is Candlemas Bells. They are usually the first flower that we see in the…
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The Folklore of Christmas Holly
Holly is an ancient plant and there is an abundance of folklore about Christmas Holly. The glossy, spiny, green leaves and bright, scarlet berries of the Ilex Aquifolium look joyful at this time of year and epitomize the Christmas colours we know and love. In olden days people would hang it outside their homes for good luck but it was…
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