The Foxglove plant

On June 15th 1906, Edith wrote,

‘I was quite surprized to come upon a bank of beautiful purple Fox-gloves today, - fully out: These are the first I have seen in flower.’

We also have the Foxglove beardtongue (or smooth Penstemon) Penstemon digitalis in our garden. The petals have a similar shape but different pattern inside.

‘It is thought that in 1775 Scottish doctor William Withering, persuaded a local gypsy to reveal the secret of her herbal heart remedy, unlocking the therapeutic potential of the foxglove and after ten years of research it entered into official use.’ Genus Gardenwear

The background frame is based on an e-processed black brolly fabric. 

The Honeysuckle plant

We have both the Lonicera Japonica and Lonicera Periclymenum Serotina honeysuckle plants in our garden.  They have been in bloom since the end of May 2025. The yellow honey suckle (Japonica), is very aromatic. On June 16th 1906, Edith wrote,

‘The roses and honeysuckle are full of  bud, but they are late in bloom this year owing to the long spell of cold weather.’

We have had a dry and sometimes warm spring here hence the early flowers on this plant. 

‘The Victorians believed that growing honeysuckle near the home or in an arch over the front door would attract love, luck and wealth. It was also believed that this plant would protect the house and garden from negative spirits.’  I wonder if that’s regardless of whether in bloom or not as it’s a deciduous plant!

The background frame is based on an e-processed blue brolly fabric

The Yellow Loose-strife plant

The Yellow Loose-strife plant in our garden started blooming at the start of June 2025. On 21st July 1905 Edith wrote:

 ‘I crossed the meadows to the bank of the little river; where the Purple Loose-strife or Long Purples was just coming into flower’. 

She is in the Temple Balsall area at that point. As the loose-strife she sees is near the river, possibly in a more shaded/cooler area and causing it to bloom later than our yellow batch.   Interestingly, the Latin name Lysimachia for this plant comes from 'King Lysimachus of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon. He used certain plants of this genus to calm agitated animals, in particular cattle'.  It has also historically been used in other areas of medicine.

The background frame is based on an e-processed green brolly fabric. 

The Alkanet plant

On 19th April 1906 Edith wrote, 

‘…I was surprised to find the blue Alkanet already in blossom just where I found it in July last year...’

Edith was on holiday in the south west of England at the time.  The alkanet in our garden has been in bloom for most of spring (and still flowering too).  Note to self, check when they stop flowering this year!

Historically the blooms have been used in salads or drinks for decorative purposes.  Some people eat the flowers. The root has also been historically processed to create a pink / red dye for materials and hair.

The background frame is based on an e-processed pink brolly fabric. 

The Hawthorn vs May Mottoe

In the May Mottoes section of her Nature Notes for 1906, Edith wrote,

 ‘Change not a clout till May be out’

Clout is an old English word for clothes and so the phrase for some means: do not put away your winter clothes till May is over or the Hawthorn blossoms have faded.

I have seen the Hawthorn in blossom since April, (overall a warm month this year) and we’ve not had any frosty or 'cold north east wind blowing’ in the mornings during May.  Let’s wait and see what it’ll be like for the latter part of May 2025.

The background frame is based on an e-processed purple brolly fabric. 

Wild Hyacinths and Blue Bells

The wild hyacinths and forget-me-nots are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.  She sometimes use the names blue bells and wild hyacinths interchangeably. Although May has been the typical month for blue bell walks, these bluebells were in bloom 19th April in our garden and I saw some earlier in the month of April at Packwood Lake side too.

Some people say they have seen the white shade version Table Mountain in South Africa.

The background frame is based on an e-processed pink brolly fabric. 

Revived Speckled Wood Butterfly

Sunday 27th April 2025

The closest I got to a butterfly without it fluttering away!

A fatigued Speckled Wood butterfly, rested on the brolly table cloth and I revived it via a dandelion flower. They usually feed on aphid honeydew from trees and plants during late spring and early summer.

The background frame is based on an e-processed yellow brolly fabric.  

Some Primula Observations

Prim-rose hybrid

In her 17th April 1905 Nature Notes entry, Edith mentions going on, 

“an expedition in search of wild flowers. Went by train to Lapworth, walked across to Bushwood, from there to Baddesley Clinton and then to Knowle station and home by train. Flowers gathered – Primroses, Cowslips, Ox-slips, Cuckoo Flowers, Strawberry Anemones, Early purple vetch; White violets, Dog Violets, Wood sorrel, Moschatel, Lady’s Mantle, Blackthorn, Bullace, Corn Crowfoot and Common Lesser Sedge and Daisies.”

She also makes an interesting observation,

 “I noticed that many of the Ox-slips had single stems to each separate stalks to the root and looked like small Prim-roses, only deeper yellow and with the orange-star. Can this be caused by bee-fertilisation?”

I have sketched ox-lips on the left and cowslips on the right.  The possible hybrid primrose flower, (from our garden) that Edith mentions also features in this picture.

The background frame is based on an e-processed blue brolly fabric. 

Pasque Flower

Happy Easter

Edith mentions Easter Sunday within the text of 15th April 1906, (Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady). She is actually out and about in the southwest of England at that time. On the 17th she mentions, ‘Miss B. had some lovely Pasque flowers sent her from Oxfordshire this morning.’

The Pasque flower name originates from the French word ‘Pâques’ which means Easter.  This also connects to the theme of resurrection and renewal.  Throughout history various cultures have revered the Pasque flower for its representation of rebirth and new beginnings.

An illustration of the Pasque flower from the book is shown below.

The background frame is based on an e-processed green brolly fabric. 

Easter 2025

 Happy Easter Season 

A Resurrection Bible reading

“1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre,bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”

Gospel of Luke KJV c24 v1-12

The illustration was composed on black umbrella fabric. The frame is based on a yellow e-processed brolly fabric.

Saint Veronica

For me, one of the significant characters in the Easter story is Veronica, subsequently St Veronica.

She manages to get close enough and show compassion and kindness to Jesus who is being ill treated.

The background frame is based on an e-processed pink brolly fabric. 

Woodspurge and Yellow Brimstone Butterfly

The wood spurge plant and yellow brimstone butterfly are illustrated in the adapted style of the artist Edith Holden.

The background frame is based on an e-processed yellow brolly fabric. 

“Come  forth ye blossoms! – over hill and lea,

A breathe of sweetness wantons with the sea,

And mid the smiles and tears of tender Spring,

Ye cups and stars that strew the fair, green field,

Ye wings of gold the prickly gorses yield;

Ye perisive bells to purple pageants born,

Ye milk-white may-buds of the mantling thorn;

Ye violet gems and eyes of sapphire blue;

Wan, flushing wind-flowers and shy elfin crew

Of every crannied wall, — come forth! –and fling

Young vernal showers around me while I sing;” – A Song of Salutation – E.M. Holden

Note: E M Holden was Edith’s sister, Effie Margaret 

Some spring flora

The coltsfoot, daffodils and periwinkle are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.

Black bird song dawn chorus sound 

The background frame is based on an e-processed blue brolly fabric. 

Featuring the Celandine

The celandine, daisy and wren birds are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.  The background frame is based on an e-processed green brolly fabric. 

                Celandine

"Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies,
Let them live upon their praises;
Long as there’s a sun that sets,
Primroses will have their glory;
Long as there are violets,
They will have a place in story:
There’s a flower that shall be mine,
'Tis the little Celandine.

Ere a leaf is on a bush,
In the time before the thrush
Has a thought about her nest,
Thou wilt come with half a call,
Spreading out thy glossy breast
Like a careless Prodigal;
Telling tales about the sun,
When we’ve little warmth, or none."

Wordsworth 

Violet Plant and Female Chaffinch

The violet flora and female chaffinch are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.

In her 1906 Nature Notes she writes a quote from Shakespeare.

‘Violets dim, yet sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes or Cytherea’s breathe.’

The background frame is based on an e-processed purple brolly fabric. 

Lady Day - 25th March

Edith Holden includes in her 'Days of Note' section, 25 March Lady Day in both the Nature Notes of 1905 and 1906. Lady Day is also known in some parts of the Christian community as the 'Feast of the Annunciation'. This is the period in time when the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she would bear Jesus Christ. 

Numerous artists have painted their interpretation of this significant event.  Some are shown below.

The background frame is an e-processed blue, green and yellow brolly fabric respectively. 

Chaffinch and Daffodil

The baby chaffinch and daffodils are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.

The background frame was created via an e-processed green brolly fabric. 

Huckworthy Bridge

Adaptation of Huckworthy Bridge

Edith Holden also produced over fifty oil paintings (as listed in The Edwardian Lady book).  Have you seen any? 

I illustrated this picture (June 2022), as an adaptation of Edith’s Huckworthy Bridge on Dartmoor that she produced as an oil painting in 1908.  Edith’s version contains much more details!

The background frame is based on an e-processed blue brolly fabric. 

Daffodils and Thrush Bird

I produced this daffodils and thrush bird illustration, (February 2020) in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden.

The picture has been given an e-processed purple brolly fabric frame. 

Re. February 1905 Nature Notes

 February nature notes sketch

The crocus and primrose are illustrated in the adapted style of artist Edith Holden. 
The sketch was drawn on purple brolly fabric and the background is on an e-processed yellow brolly fabric. 

Some Anniversaries

If you are part of a local community group, consider marking the occasion with:

  * Having a wildflower patch in your own / community garden.

  * An Edwardian Tea Party

  * An Edwardian Fancy Dress

  * An Art Exhibition (invite members of the community to bring and show their     flora / fauna art work.

   * A Talk / Discussion with members within your group.

You can find summary information about Edith and her Natures Notes online.