Tag: Royal Horticultural Society

Midsummer Yellow

*St John’s Wort at Fairacres. Photo by Julia Sheffield.*

A few days ago we celebrated the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. (June 24^th,) – Midsummer’s Day.
John has two festivals though I suspect the one this week was preferable to him than the other which commemorates his beheading!

Just before celebrating his Nativity, I visited the Convent of the Incarnation, the home of the Sisters of the Love of God at Fairacres in Oxford. By the entrance there was a profusion of yellow flowers filling a bush of welcome.
I was reminded that the birth of St John the Baptist and this flowering bush are connected. In horticultural parlance it is known by the name Hypericum but it also has a name in religion – that of St. John’s Wort. It flowers mainly in June and usually around the time of St. John’s birthday.

The word ’Wort’ comes from the Old English word, ‘Wyrt’, meaning a plant or a herb or root. It is associated by some with folk medicine and is said to have healing properties in the treatment of mild depression. However, it can affect other medicines adversely so it’s always wisest to consult professional people.

Gardeners know it as a herb with woody roots which the Royal Horticultural Society tells of it bearing yellow flowers mark by black glands and leaves that appear perforated due to translucent glands producing copious seed per plant.

From a religious point of view, it is noted that the flowers have five petals which represent a halo. When cut there is red liquid which becomes a symbol of St. John the Baptist’s beheading.

Religious folklore adds that the plant traditionally wards off evil spirits and demons linking this with St John as a spiritual protector. In medieval Europe people hung sprigs of the plant above doorways to protect homes. During midsummer celebrations the plant was placed in fields and burned in bonfires. This was to protect people, livestock, homes and crops against evil forces.

Oddly, in an age when evil and malice prevail more than ever, we neglect these helpful ceremonies and symbols!

That was certainly not true for Saint Columba. According to Gaelic tradition, Columba always carried a piece of St. John’s Wort not only because of his great regard for St. John but also for its protective and healing qualities.

This is one of the many examples how nature and spirituality are intertwined as God’s great design of Creation of which we are but a part. Living in harmony, care and love for God’s creation which defines us, is something we need to re-discover and put into practice.
May St. John’s Wort remind us of that.

Breath of Summer ~ a prayer

Creator God
who breathed this world into being,
who is discernible within
the harmony of nature,
the perfection of a butterfly’s wing,
the grandeur of a mountain range,
the soaring eagle and humming bird,
thank you for this world
which you have created.
Thank you for summer sun,
which reminds us
that your creative breath
is still alive and active.
Thank you for the warmth of your love,
sustaining this world,
your garden

Prayer from Xavier University Cincinnati #Jesuitresource.org is developed by The Center for Mission and Identity at Xavier University with support from the Conway Institute for Jesuit Education.

[Mr G. 27th June 2026]

Let it glow

*Glow Festival, Harlow Carr. photo by Gill Henwood*

Let it Glow! Enjoy an unmissable after-dark spectacle of lights at RHS Gardens this festive season

Winter needn’t be doom and gloom. The snow can be a hazard for travellers and people living alone or in isolated places but it also brings its own beauty and even quietness.
The Royal Horticultural Society at its 5 Gardens, Wisley, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Bridgewater, Rosemoor are brightening the winter evenings with ‘Glow’ Festivals.
Light displays around the gardens and illuminations on and in trees bring a magical beauty. A reminder that light arrangements penetrate the winter cold and gloom. In frosty (even snowy!) weather the combination with coloured lights is, for many of us, a cheerfulness which delights.
(Sorry if you don’t agree!!)

The photo above was taken by my friend Gill Henwood at a visit to the Glow Festival at Harlow Carr Garden, near Harrogate, Yorkshire. There are variable dates at the Gardens, some not ending until 30^th December. If you live nearby any of the gardens, look up the Royal Horticultural Society website for further details.

Meanwhile, my friend Heather Upfield has sent me a photo, from the West Coast of Scotland,
of her garden and trees beyond, clothed in snow and breathing tranquility. So peaceful!

Both photos are aspects of Advent.
The expectation of Light from God coming into the world, and the quietness and gentleness with which, in the birth of Jesus, He does it.

[Mr G. 3rd December 2023]

Inspiring growth

As a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, I receive the monthly edition of the RHS Magazine, The Garden.
The August edition carries news of a yearly survey which, currently, asked the question: What first ignited your interest in gardening? The most popular answer was I helped someone in my family garden when I was a child.
This response led to The Garden launching a competition for children to design this month’s cover of the magazine. Three joint winners were chosen and the designs were divided up across all the magazines. Inside is a big selection of many other entries and all the entries can be viewed on the RHS website (for details see below)
The theme of this month’s magazine relates to this with articles, photos, features all aimed at young people and parents, carers, grandparents, schools etc to encourage children and young people to explore gardens and gardening.
The editor of the magazine, Tom Howard, said this:
Kids see gardening as a magical place where seeds have faces and bees can be pets. The very best gardens and gardeners never lose this sense of magic.

As one for whom that is true I thought about how people pass on enthusiasm and inspiration to others.
People encouraging others to experience nature, creation, the environment are much needed right now.
I thought too of some special people who would understand this.

One particular person is Jean Fone. She has retired now but when I knew her she was head teacher of a small country school at Bleasdale in North Lancashire.I was her chair of Governing Body. She one of the most inspiring, enthusing and dedicated teachers I have ever known. Together with Freda and a small group of assistants she presided over a small school with a big heart.
She didn’t just see that the curriculum was followed, she went far beyond that. She saw education as opening hearts and minds through a learning which included experience of the world around us. Bleasdale is an amazing landscape of bluebell woods, fields, farms and towering Fells which provide a backdrop for breathtaking scenery. Jean made use of it all! She conceived an idea of creating a woodland trail which included sculpture, wood carvings, woodland discovery paths and nature trails. She persuaded the Landowner to give the area and local frmers, country rangers and artists were all encouraged to join in.She could be very persuasive!
Then Jean and her team created the School Garden and again the gifts she brought to the children included inspiration and encouragement. The Garden became a big feature of school life.
They then entered a competition organized by the RHS. It was to design a Biblical Garden. The children rose to the challenge and this little Lancashire school was awarded first prize.
We were all invited to the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, where we enjoyed a wonderful day, received our Certificate and each got a bag of lovely RHS goodies!
The garden itself was built to the winning design and enhanced the earlier School garden.
I am sure that all those children and adults who were part of that experience were encouraged to see the land, nature and creation in a different and creative way.
Jean was an enthuser, encourager, one who works hard to make dreams come true.

My own experience which became a life-long love of gardening was encouraged by my granddad.
When I was young we had no proper garden. Then one day, granddad arrived with a wooden orange box – a box that had held oranges. He lined it carefully with lining and filled it with soil. At the age of nine, I watched, fascinated. Then he gave me a packet of Nasturtiums. I think they might have been Tom Thumb mix. He took a seed from the packet, made a hole in the soil and popped it in. Then I did the rest. My first bit of gardening! I was thrilled. He helped me to water the seeds and told me that now we had to wait for them to grow.
About half an hour later I went out to look.
Grandad, I said, they aren’t growing! He smiled, You’ve just learned the first lesson of gardening – patience.
Of course, once they grew I was hooked on gardening.

Whether it’s gardening or any other skill, hobby or accomplishment – from music to maths – encouraging and enthusing others is a wonderful way of helping people to grow.

Whatever we do to enhance God’s creation is making our world better place.
Giving others a reverence for Nature is a big part in that.
We all have people who have inspired us. The best way we can thank them is to inspire others.

To see all the entries for the RHS Kids’ cover competition go to
rhs.org.uk/kidscovercompentries

[Mr G]