We're halfway there

Val enjoys the plants that show us spring is approaching

- Val Bourne

THERE are two important days in my gardening calendar. One is 19 January, because that’s the day when the ground starts to warm up again in our part of the world. I always breathe a sigh of relief, because spring is only weeks away. The other day is either 1 or 2 February, the midway point between the shortest day and the spring equinox. This day, known as the festival of light and fire, has been celebrated since pagan times, and was known to our Celtic ancestors as Imbolc. Bonfires were burnt and lamps were lit on 1 February.

When Christianity arrived, the festival of light was renamed Candlemas and the date was moved to 2 February. Candles were carried into the church and the altar was decorated with snowdrops – a symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity. It may explain why many churchyards have large colonies of snowdrops close by.