Inspirational | Pilgrim's Perch

Lily of the Valley

As spring unfolds the delights of the garden gradually reveal themselves and almost every day something new unfurls tentative green leaves or delicate fresh blooms. Suddenly a new perfume wafts its way into the consciousness and we discover another hidden gem.

One such bringer of joy is the beautiful lily of the valley, or convallaria. The tiny, bell-like flowers hide shyly amongst the long spear-like green leaves like fragile strings of pearls and the sudden breath of perfume energises the senses. It is said that when the lily of the valley blooms, happiness returns. Another belief is that the nightingale, one of our songful migrant warblers, will not return until this jewel-like flower blooms.

White lily of the valley peeping through foliage — A shy lily of the valley peeps through…

Christian legend tells that the tears Mary shed at the foot of the cross fell to the ground and were turned into these pure white, delicate flowers. The Victorians loved to assign qualities to flowers – lilies of the valley represented beauty, purity, sweetness and humility – for this reason they often find place in wedding bouquets.

Wedding bouquet with white flowers — Lilies combine with other beautiful blooms in wedding bouquets

The French name, porte-bonheur, means ‘bringer of happiness’ and it is traditional to carry posies of lilies on May Day, to celebrate the arrival of spring. The scent of the plant is renowned for alleviating depression and bringing a sense of wellbeing and security. (But, like so many plants that look and smell wonderful, it is poisonous if eaten.)

A posy of lily of the valley fills a room with its glorious fragrance — A posy of lilies of the valley fills a room with its glorious fragrance

Much loved by perfumers lily of the valley provides high notes for many soaps and scents. It has always been popular – but to encounter it in its natural setting is exceptionally special.

Swifts – a Joyful Return

Excitement in our household here in the UK – the swifts have returned!

We always greet these harbingers of summer with great joy. Here for such a short time they are a reminder of the fragility and wonder of nature. They are pilgrims of a special kind; such tiny birds, travelling vast distances at amazing speeds in their quest for survival.

The swift - an intriguing bird — The swift – an intriguing bird

Our swifts will have returned from Africa, where they spend the winter. Before this was understood it was believed that swifts spent the winter hibernating in the mud at the bottom of ponds!

Flying high and fast swifts feed on insects taken in flight. The scythe-like silhouette of the swift is immediately identifiable, as is its shrill, screech-like call. Watching them wheeling, swooping and diving in the sky is one of those wonders that gladdens the heart. It’s almost as if they indulge in aerodynamic gymnastics for the sheer joy of it.

Since Roman times swifts have nested in buildings rather than in holes in trees or cliff faces. Older buildings – barns, churches and traditional houses – provide nooks and crannies ideal for these acrobatic little birds to breed and rear young – and that’s the only time they ever rest from flight. Swifts have a small beak but wide gape and they’re able to gather small insects at the back of the throat, where they use saliva to form a bolus that can be regurgitated and fed to their young.

Swifts have tiny feet with forward-pointing toes and they are unable to perch on wires like swallows. They can’t take off from the ground, either. If you see one of these beautiful birds grounded take it gently in your hand, raise your hand slowly with the swift’s head facing outwards and encourage it gently into flight. They have a life span of up to ten years – during that time it has been estimated that they could fly a distance equivalent to the moon and back.

A swift flies the equivalent of the distance to the moon in its lifetime!

Their conservation status is not known accurately owing to the difficulty in surveying a bird that spends its life flying. However, indications are that the population has declined in recent years, especially in England and Scotland. Their future survival depends on successful breeding – we can help by placing artificial swift boxes on the outside of our houses, either fixing them to walls or using one to replace a house brick.

So, let the summer begin. Rejoice in the swooping, screaming and chasing of the swifts, as they revel in their summer-long party. No social distancing here!

A Strange Spring arrives

Spring has arrived, the clocks have gone forward and in the northern hemisphere the days are lengthening. But what an unfamiliar world we find ourselves in. With words like ‘isolation’, ‘social distancing’ and ‘vulnerable persons’ on everyone’s lips it is a spring like no other.

We find our movements restricted, the survival of jobs threatened, supplies limited. It is indeed a strange time. Often difficult conditions like these can bring out the best in people – we’ve seen volunteer groups set up, communities pulling together and neighbours helping out and keeping an eye open for those in need. For the most part this is cheering – maybe when the current peril is past we’ll be a kinder and more caring society.

But the end of this so-called ‘lock down’ is not just yet. We have to find ways to remain optimistic – not always easy if lifestyles and livelihoods are threatened. It is at times like these that we need even more to value simple things and this beautiful season of growth and awakening from winter slumber can provide some signs of cheer for the future.

Bright yellow gorse in flower — Bright honey-scented flowers of gorse

If you can get out for a walk or into a garden – enjoy it. Listen to the birdsong and the buzz of insects, feel the breeze on your skin and the warmth of the sun, look to the blue sky and enjoy what is around you.

Blackthorn flowers festoon the hedgerows

Blackthorn is in full flower now – its abundance clothes the hedgerows with foaming white flowers looking for all the world like a sudden eiderdown covering of snow. Indeed, the phrase ‘blackthorn winter’ stems from the frequent spells of cold weather that suddenly surprise us in the early days of April.

Spring bulbs in pots — Spring bulbs give a wonderful splash of colour

As the sun returns the spring bulbs are really coming into their own whether in pots or in the wild. This strange spring is a time of new growth, new opportunities, new ways of living and coping with a challenging situation. It will pass…

Tulips in many shades — Narcissus and tulips