I am excited because, astronomically speaking, spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere tomorrow with the equinox on March 20. My spirits soar as soon as Daylight Saving Time begins along with these wonderful longer evenings.
Regular readers of this column will know that I get a surge of energy and excitement when we see the end of winter and enter my favorite seasons of spring and summer. The anticipation of long days by the pool or the occasional lunch by the beach fill me with joy, and in spite of the need to get through ‘pollen season’, I am enthusiastic!
There are two spring flowers I love which can grow in both London and Savannah – azaleas and daffodils. The first are prolific in Coastal Georgia while the latter are much more common in the UK. Let’s start with a trip around the world with azaleas.
The Azalea flower, a beautiful flowering shrub, also known as the Rhododendron, are at their peak blooming at this time of year and can be pink, purple, white or red. Their symbolic meaning in different cultures often represent femininity, passion, and renewal. The Cherokee tribe in North America considers azaleas to be symbols of harmony and balance in nature. According to their folklore, the blooming of azalea flowers signifies the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. Azaleas are the designated state flower of Alabama and in Mobile there is an annual Azalea Festival every March.
Throughout ancient Chinese culture, these beautiful flowers were believed to bring wealth and prosperity. In certain regions of China, folklore suggests that azaleas have the ability to ward off illnesses and bring good luck. In Japan, it is believed that azaleas represent restraint and temperance and possess protective powers against evil spirits, which is why they are often planted near homes. Azalea flowers are also used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies as a symbol of renewal and rejuvenation. According to Celtic folklore, azaleas are also believed to provide protection against evil spirits and are often linked to hidden treasure. As a student back in England, I studied the ancient Greeks and their mythology. One popular myth involves a beautiful nymph named Azalea, who was pursued by a persistent god. To escape his advances, Azalea transformed herself into a vibrant and delicate flower.
Onto daffodils. I love my life and home here, but I do miss seeing millions of daffodils growing abundantly across the English countryside as they remind everyone living in this northern European climate that the harsh winter is over with the end of freezing temperatures. The ancient Romans are known to have planted daffodils in memory of loved ones or comrades fallen in battle, and it’s likely they brought them to Britain nearly two thousand years ago, from Spain and Portugal where the largest variety of daffodil species are found. Daffodils’ uplifting yellow flowers never fail to make me smile and although they can also be white, salmon-pink or orange, yellow is the most common color. Did you know that daffodil bulbs have been known to survive in the ground for well over a century, flowering consistently for decades?
The UK is the world’s biggest grower of daffodils, and their botanical name is Narcissus, named after a young man, known for his beauty in Greek mythology who was tricked into falling in love with his own reflection. The drooping flowers that characterize most daffodils are said to represent Narcissus bending over to catch his reflection in a pool of water. Narcissus derives from the Greek ‘narco’, which is the root of the word narcotic.
This probably relates to the daffodil’s toxicity – all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Daffodils are the birth flower for those born in March and symbolize new birth, beginnings, happiness and joy. It is relatively recently that the daffodil has become associated with Wales – only since the late 19th century, as opposed to the leek, which had been the national symbol since the 16th century. Daffodils may have been drafted in as a replacement for the leek, which is not as attractive or fragrant to wear on a lapel! It certainly helps that the day that the Welsh celebrate their patron saint, St David’s Day is on the March 1st, just when the daffodil is at its peak throughout the UK.
There is a lot more information at www.britannica. com and www. history.com I will leave you with a quote from the famous poem, ‘The Daffodils’ by the English 19th Century, poet Williams Wordsworth.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
God Bless America!
Lesley grew up in London, England and made Georgia her home in 2009. She can be contacted at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or via her PR and marketing agency at www.lesleyfrancispr. com.