January 11th, 2009 Old Man Winter is tightening his bone chilling grip on us. With another five inches of snow last night, and temperatures expected to dip to -20C this week, spring seems an eternity away. Thank goodness there are seed catalogues and gardening magazines to remind us of what is to come. Pouring through the seed [...]
December 9th, 2008 As with many of our Christmas traditions, the use of holly as an important celebratory plant began long before the first Christmas, though Christians have adopted and adapted the tradition to make it their own. The Romans are credited with originating the custom of gifting their friends with holly boughs during [...]
December 2nd, 2008 Down with the rosemary and so, Down with the bays and mistletoe, Down with the holly, ivy all Wherewith ye deck the Christmas Hall Herrick Rosemary (rosmarinus) In the language of flowers and plants, Rosemary is a symbol of remembrance and fidelity. There are many customs, legends and myths surrounding [...]
