Signs of Spring for Lovers

At this part of the winter it can seem a painfully long haul from Valentines Day to a really nice bit of warm and sunny blossom-scented weather.

There seems to be very few signs of spring in these dark and dreary days. But there is one fairly obvious sign - the occasional drift of white snowdrops. Snowdrops will be flowering on a roadside verge or a bit of woodland near you just about now. Why not take your partner for a bit of a romantic stroll and go and have a look.

But whatever you do (according to folklore), if you are a 'maiden' with an ambition to marry in the current year, don't you be picking any snowdrops or bringing them into your house.

In fact, according to folklore they will, apparently be very bad luck indeed, or at best, they'll stop your chickens laying eggs, your cow will provide poor milk and the butter made from it will, quite frankly, be rubbish. The chances of meeting and keeping a romantic partner will be drastically reduced. Which probably isn't what you want.

So don't do it.

On the other hand, since it is the season of St Valentine, it may well be that a romantic wander, hand-in-hand through the frozen winter fields, cheered in this dark, winter time by the sight of some swathes of pure white could be just the thing to bring you together. Ah, bless . . .

Whilst we're on about flowers, by the way, daffodils are even worse than snowdrops folklore-wise. In fact, don't even consider anything with a bulb on it and flowers that droop.

Lover's really don't want to be linked with anything that droops . . .

Obviously.

Snowdrops. Photo by Mike Knipe

© Mike Knipe. Mike Knipe is an experienced outdoor enthusiast, walk leader and writer who has worked with Durham County Council and English Nature (aka Natural England).

Other articles by Mike Knipe on go4awalk.com include:

The Mike Knipe Column

The Art of Getting Lost . . .

How to start Peak Bagging . . .

How to sound like a walking expert . . . (writing as Gnasher the Dog) and

Is that a Mitt in your pocket - or are you just pleased to see me?

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