The perennial Primrose is blooming! Genus Primula, based on the Medieval Latin ‘prima rosa’ – ‘first rose’! And what a rose! Small clumps garnish the ditch banks, snuggled covertly in the cool shade!
There are more than 30 species of Primrose in Europe, with 5 making up the British contingent, which include the Primrose (primula vulgaris), the Cowslip and the Oxslip.
As wild flowers go the Primrose must be one of the most beautiful, and not only because it is one of the first of the year. It competes in the hedgerows with, amongst others, the Celandine, the Wood Anemone and the humble, but extremely useful, Dandelion.
The Primrose symbolizes mixed fortunes. As well as being the ‘first rose’ it often represents the darker side of life, and death.
· Never bring less than thirteen Primroses into the house, because only the equivalent amount of chicks will hatch! (That’s providing you have the eggs incubating in the first place!)
· Presenting someone with a single Primrose would result in death. (Although, for who or what isn’t clear!)
· A Primrose blooming out of character in winter foretold death. (Again, a bit vague!)
· And the Primrose Path indicated the pursuit of pleasure with disastrous consequences. (Shakespeare’s Hamlet – Ophelia, ‘Whilst like a puff’d and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads...’)
· The Primrose was also the favourite flower of the Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, causing some people to commemorate his birthday on the 19th April as ‘Primrose Day’! Lucky man!
The month of March certainly went out ‘like a lion’! Blustering gales have removed a substantial amount of dead leaves from the beech garden hedge, providing entertainment for the more playful of my two cats. And, after waiting months for the daffs to bloom, they have been subsequently flattened by the prevailing!
The sun is increasing in strength, and even the occasional butterfly can be spotted on its search for scarce nectar. Bumblebees are buzzing, although I have also, worryingly, seen a couple dead around the garden.
Over the past few days we have seen the first proper rain in weeks! And on Sunday afternoon, just to remind us that Mother Nature is ever full of surprises, we heard thunder.
And, today (6th April), a day later than last year, the first swallow flew over our humble abode! Although as we know, ‘one swallow does not a summer make’!
Thank you for your time, take care, speak soon!
The Bumpkin Rambler xx
Fantastic :)
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