Blog on the Learig

  2 January 2026 We walked along the Lade Braes on Hogmanay and saw the snowdrops. Many have penetrated the earth and the detritus of autumn leaves and a few have flowered not as early as in the manse garden at Traprain. They always appeared  on Christmas Eve. In his poem about the snowdrop, Alfred Lord Tennyson welcomes the sight of the snowdrop with these words, ‘Many, many welcomes/ February fair-maid’ . This must surely be an indicator of global warming if this was his usual first sighting. They used to be called Candlemas Bells. Candlemas is celebrated on 2 February! I planted three dozen assorted hyacinth bulbs towards the end of October and put them under cover in the loft. I have inspected them a few times and watered them gently. They have all flourished in that chilled environment and are ready to come down. Some people like to add them into the mix of Christmas decorations but I don’t. I much prefer to keep   their splendour and scent for the early days...