Friday Flowers #18~As the days grow colder..

Hello Friends.

A very Happy New Year to you all.

We are past the Winter Solstice but the old adage As the days grow longer, so the cold grows stronger’ could not be more apt. What a week it has been! And it seemed especially fitting to write to you today on the 13th of January; St Hilary’s Day according to the old Julian calendar, regarded in folklore as the coldest day of the year. St Hilary himself dates all the way back to the 4th Century, but ever since his feast day  was marked with the start of a ‘great frost’ in 1205 that lasted a whole two months, freezing the River Thames solid, the story has perpetuated that all eyes should be on the 13th January for the very coldest day that Winter can bring. Temperatures in our corner of Sheffield seem to have risen a little today, belying folklore, although I did read that the snow and ice is set to return on the 24th which is, ironically, the day that St Hilary’s Day moved to once we adopted the Gregorian calendar. Either way, coorie in, get cosy and stay safe.

A rather chilly start then to the New Year and the first Friday Flowers Club of 2025. It is so nice to be back.

This week the focus will be on winter whites, pale pinks and splashes of vibrant purple with the introduction of some early spring flowers, Ranunculus and some beautiful Smith & Munson tulips.

As always, “Bringing the Outdoors In”.

Thank you.

Nicola