#stdavidsday

Step aside, St. Patrick! This March we’re celebrating St. David’s Day, the feast day honoring the patron saint of Wales, with a post on our seventeenth-century copy of a Welsh-English dictionary. 

Y Gymraeg yn ei Disgleirdeb or The British Language in its Lustre was “compiled by great pains and industry” by Thomas Jones (1648?-1713), a Welsh publisher and bookseller who was likely the first Welsh journalist, although no copies of his newspaper are extant. Desiring to revive and purify the Welsh tongue, Jones endeavored to create this Welsh-English dictionary.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Happy St. David's Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Today, I'd like to mark the rich culture of Wales as we honour St. David's Day, a day that holds a special place in the hearts of the Welsh people. This day pays homage to the patron saint of Wales, St. David, whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of Welsh identity.

🌼 Daffodils and Leeks: The national emblems, the daffodil and the leek, take center stage in today's celebrations. The bright yellow daffodils bloom as a symbol of renewal and the coming of spring, while the humble leek, worn traditionally by the Welsh, is a nod to the vegetable St. David is said to have recommended to his soldiers in battle.

🎶 Eisteddfodau and Song: St. David's Day is also a time when the Welsh showcase their artistic talents. Eisteddfodau, cultural festivals, bring communities together to celebrate literature, music, and performance. The Welsh are known for their beautiful hymns and stirring choral music that resonate through the hills and valleys of this picturesque land.

🏰 Heritage and History: Wales boasts a rich history that stretches back centuries. From its ancient castles, standing proudly against the test of time, to the poetic verses of legendary bards, every corner of Wales echoes with tales of valour and tradition. St. David's Day allows us to reflect on this heritage and appreciate the resilience and strength of the Welsh people.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Community Spirit: Today is not just a celebration of the past; it's a celebration of the present and the future. St. David's Day encourages a sense of community and unity among the Welsh, fostering a spirit of togetherness that transcends borders.

Sunny February saw the Garden come back to life after the darkness of Winter and the big team effort of planting thousands of bulbs last autumn, really started to show. 

Sweet little Snowdrops have been giving way to beautiful Crocus - we have been planting the variety ‘Ruby Giant’ here in Dalston for the last couple of years. Crocus are definitely best planted en masse; we plant them under the birch trees, throughout our ‘Bee Bed’, and this year in shallow clay-pots raised up on planters to really put them on show. Not only do they look beautiful - we love seeing Crocus open their ‘faces’ to the sun - but they offer early nectar for bees. Win win!

Other flowers looking beautiful here at the Curve Garden right now include little pink Primulas which were kindly donated to us from a garden in Wales, and Hellebores, which have been looking radiant in the sun. The first of our Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ started flowering early too, so there are lots around all over the Garden in pots and tins, just in time for St David’s Day and the meteorological first day of Spring! 

The Garden is open from 11am every day in March, so do come by soon and enjoy Spring in all it’s green abundance. 

Even though you probably don't know what it is 😂😂. But it's the Welsh holiday 😂. Even so I hope you all have a great day!

And too my SSLS hope you have a great Friday!