The Primrose blooms when the insects are still very few, and because of this, its flowers are often not pollinated. Shakespeare, in "The Winter's Tale," has drawn a poetic metaphor: "the pale primroses who die unmarried".
Its name reflects its early birth; in the language of flowers, it has inspired the symbol of the first youth. Lovers have endeavored to tell the beloved: "The key to my heaven is in your heart." with this flower.
Like everything announcing the new season and the renewal of the year, the primrose is also a symbol of good luck and good wishes (for example in England, where such a plant is also known as "bunch of keys").
The primrose is considered a "Plant of Fairies". (Flowers of Springtime, the Primrose and other flowers.)
(If you want to listen to the video, turn off the music at the bottom of this page.)
Although I was familiar with the song Primrose Lane . . . as it was one that I heard often when I was growing up . . . I don't think I ever saw or knew what an actual Primrose was before I moved over here to the UK. There is, indeed a very virginal quality about them . . . these "pale primroses, that die unmarried." There is a unique green tinge in their yellowness which gives them a very ethereal look.
With crinkled leaves . . . cool to the touch, these little clumps, like shy maidens, are to be found . . . not in the full glare of the sun, but huddled together in quite and secluded places.
The scent of the Primrose is something which cannot be put into words. It is fresh . . . like wet earth, but also faint and elusive. No direct assault on the nose like a whiff of expensive Parisian perfume, but in inexplainable exhalation from the very soul of the Primrose itself, which puts one in mind of far away childhood and distant woods of ancient memories . . . one thinks of fairies which dance around toadstool rings, celebrating the arrival of Spring in a way that only fairies can . . .
We are definitely experiencing the joys of April showers right now. The skies are beautifully blue and gloriously filled with sunshine at one moment, and then . . . a mere few moments later they fill up with dark cloud and the drops begin to fall. Tis quite amazing really. I don't think I've ever lived in a place where the weather can change so dramatically in just a matter of moments. These April days are so changeable one must only venture out if well equipped and prepared for any kind of weather. Such is England in the spring . . .
We had a very unique fireside at our chapel last night. (A fireside is what we call an extra meeting that is put on occasionally, where all are invited to attend or not as they wish. Many bring friends, and there are usually refreshments afterwards. They can follow any topic and can be at once entertaining, and soul enriching.) We normally don't venture out on Sunday evenings, but we did want to attend last night as our friend Eric was presenting a devotional based on his recent trip to Israel. It was on the atonement of the Saviour, but done in a very unique way, using the olive tree, which had really affected Eric right to his core from his very first moments on Israeli soil. I wish I could describe to you what he shared with us last evening, but I don't think I could ever adequately find the words. I was quite moved to tears, and came away with a completely new awareness and understanding of the atonement. I don't think I'll ever see it in the same way again. Oh what a blessed and precious gift we have been given. I do so wish more people were aware of it. What a different world we would be living in today were that so . . .
I am always a bit baffled by people and their ideas. Oftimes these days, they tend to pick and choose what they are going to believe from the scriptures . . . you will hear them say that all the happenings in the world and on the earth at the moment are clear signs of the end times . . . and yet they are not moved to make any changes in their lives or to do anything any differently than they have ever done. I don't think there is any halfway with the scriptures . . . it is all or nothing for me. They are either all true, or all not true. You cannot cherry pick . . . and if they are all true, then it behooves us to take action, before it is too late . . .
Oh, such deep thoughts, this morning. ☺
"Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things."And the greatest of all good things is God."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf
A simple supper in The English Kitchen today . . . Bacon Chops and Fried Potatoes.
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