Friday Flowers Club #4 "Grain Rains”

Hello friends.

The subtleties within our four seasons excite me. Four defined seasons is nowhere near enough, so much has changed and re-shaped already within the brief bit of Spring we have had. In Japan the year is split into seventy two ‘mini-seasons’ and this makes so much more sense to me. The Japanese would refer to the period right now as the ‘Grain Rains’ part of Spring now that ‘Pure & Clear’ has finished. Reeds are sprouting, the frosts have ended, and Peonies will be coming into bloom very soon.

In Sheffield meanwhile, the initial awakening of what we know as ‘Bright Spring’ has passed with bursts of Daffodil, Crocus, Tulip and Blossom, and we are now moving into the next phase of colour of ‘True Spring’, highlighted by the humble Bluebell. Almost half the world’s Bluebells are found in the UK and with Bluebell season having officially started on 11th April this year, it got me thinking, and then exploring the local woods. More importantly it has inspired my flower choices and colour palette for this week, purples, blues and white featuring Alliums, Asters and Callis Buttons. And, as ever, “Bringing the Outdoors in”