News — British Flowers

At the centre of a crime, an unlikely suspect; the birth flower of February. Near to our home in Devon were once many acres of land devoted to growing tiny violets, loved by Edwardians and a favourite of Queen Mary. Business thrived and bunch upon bunch of sweetly scented violets were loaded onto the flower train in Dawlish bound for London. So popular was the scent, in 1910 Devonshire Violets Perfume was created by Young's of Torquay and sold in Boots, labeled "the sweetest perfume I have ever used".  Then the war came and there was less call for flowers and...

Symbolising warmth and hope, the Snowdrop is one of the very first flowers to appear, often braving freezing temperatures in the coldest months of winter. Often found growing in hedgerows, Snowdrops to me signify the beginning of a new year and are refreshingly minimal after the opulence of Christmas flowers and greenery. I certainly can't describe them better than William Wordsworth in his poem, To A Snowdrop: LONE Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they But hardier far, once more I see thee bend Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend, Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,...

The final month of the year has an altogether different flower, not a flower exactly, but the most festive of all, the holly. While technically a berry at this time of year, it's the perfect sprig to symbolise a December birthday. Our connections to holly go way back; in the beginnings of Christianity the berries were thought to be stained red by the blood of Christ. Before them, Druids believed that holly brought fertility and symbolised eternal life. Celtic chieftans wore crowns of holly to bring good luck and Pagans used the branches in their celebrations for the winter Solstice....