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.