Catkins, Pussy Willow and Primroses

The weather took a very cold turn this week and the ground has been hard with frost. However, the grass, leaves and rooftops have also glistened and sparkled in moments of bright sunshine and we even had a flurry of snow that was deep enough to make a very satisfying "crunch" under foot - it really has been winter weather at its loveliest!

Despite the decrease in temperature the flowers are starting to appear thick and fast around the village, and many are dressed in fashionable yellow: I saw a host of sunny little winter aconites hugging the base of a tree in a neighbour's garden today and a very impressive Mahonia japonica was standing guard at the entrance to a driveway. Catkins were bouncing around in the breeze (they always remind me more of lamb's tails) or appeared as fluffy pussy willow buds on the branches of goat willow (Salix caprea) trees. I also spotted a lone little primrose plant nestled against a garden wall:

Catkins and primroses couldn't be more different yet both plants are standard bearers for the coming Spring. Catkins are magnets for children who see alder and hazel catkins as snakes and worms, whilst soft little pussy willow buds remind them of bunny tails or kitten's paws. Primroses also remind me of my own childhood; they lined the banks and hedgerows where I grew up and my Great Nan was named after the flower as she was born on "Primrose Day" - 19th April (so-named as the date marked the anniversary of the death of the Statesman Benjamin Disraeli and primroses were his favourite flower).

In our own garden, things are happening at a slower pace. Primroses of various colours are starting to show their faces, though they are in no hurry to wake up. However, the first of the violets has appeared and I happily spotted a pretty little pink cyclamen that I forgot I had planted last year!

As my time in the garden has been limited, I have been trying to catch up on a little reading. My book of the moment is one that I have been meaning to read for a while: Four Hedges by Clare Leighton.

Clare Leighton is recognised as one of the finest engravers of the twentieth century, and was also a keen gardener and naturalist. Four Hedges is a timeless record of the changing seasons within the garden that she and her partner created in a little patch of the Chiltern Hills and is written in such an honest and observant style that it's easy to imagine yourself working in the garden alongside Clare, discovering hidden wildlife such as nesting blackbirds and thrushes. The illustrations are also beautiful; I particularly like the working figures who are completely engrossed in the task at hand, faces turned away from view and often braced against the cold wind and rain. It's a book that's both wonderfully uplifting and remarkably levelling.

I thought I would end this week with another short garden and nature themed quiz. This time it's multiple choice and, as previously, you can find the answers at the end of this post.

1. From which country does Poinsettia originate?

(a) Mexico, (b) Spain, (c) South Africa.

2. The image shows a piece of antique gardening apparatus. What was it used for?

(a) Straightening cucumbers, (b) protecting delicate plants through the Winter, (c) storing fruit wines.

3. What plant is also known by the rather suggestive names of "come-and-cuddle-me", "meet-me-in-the-entry-kiss-her-in-the-buttery" and "jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me"?

(a) Buttercup, (b) Wild Pansy, (c) Forget Me Not.

4. What is the correct depth to plant tulip bulbs?

(a) Just below the surface, (b) 1 x bulb depth, (c) 3 x bulb depth.

5. If you received a single yellow rose in the Victorian era, what message would the sender be trying to convey?

(a) True love, (b) regret, (c) jealousy.

6. Which of these is a real plant?

(a) Begonia darthvaderiana, (b) Begonia Ming The Merciless, (c) Begonia dalekerina.

7. Which of these "facts" about earwigs is true?

(a) They are very attentive mothers, (b) they can't fly, (c) they love to crawl into our ears.

8. What distance do migrating swallows typically cover in a day?

(a) 50 miles, (b) 200 miles, (c) 500 miles.

9. The origins of the RSPB lie with two groups of women who fought to prevent what practice:

(a) The eating of birds, (b) The stuffing of birds for ornamental purposes, (c) the use of bird feathers as decorations for hats and clothing.

10. According to legend, which is the king of birds?

(a) The wren, (b) the blackbird, (c) the sparrow.

"It is a greater act of faith to plant a bulb than to plant a tree".

"I wonder how long it takes one to feel entirely possessed by a particular part of earth. For there is no doubt that one is possessed by the earth rather than oneself possessing it".

"Last May...we were visited by a friend whose father had just died; she was discordant and hurt, and life to her was unrhythmic. With visible release she dashed into the orchard to slash at the dandelions; as she destroyed them her discords were resolved. After two days of weed slaughtering her face was calm. The garden had healed her". Clare Leighton

Answers: 1 (a), 2 (a) 3 (b), 4 (c), 5 (c), 6 (a), 7 (a), 8 (b), 9 (c), 10 (a) .