Irene; a woman of substance

Irene Patterson grows in the company of snowdrops and alongside a large bottle feature. A few more are scattered about where light is always at a premium, for their leaves seems to radiate what little there is.

In Donegal the Northern Lights may still be filling the winter sky, but here in the far south Orion continues his nightly stride across the heavens towards the horizon. Soon he will disappear into summer oblivion. His movement is a portent, a sure and welcome sign that winter is losing the jurisdiction battle, thus allowing spring its subtle arrival.

The great flush of bulb growth that the new season brings will delight gardeners for weeks to come, but we must also look for delicate white and cream blossoms on dark, wet twigs, the swelling of sticky chestnut buds, and the arrival of fresh green foliage on garden trees and shrubs.