St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Winter flowers offer pleasure by the hours.

To brighten up the colder months with delightful pleasure.

It is all too tempting to consider winter

As a dormant, duller season without interest.

But this is definitely not so,

For nature is in the hands of a Master Creator.

The daphne family is exquisitely perfumed

And strikingly, delicately pretty.

Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose, steals the scene,

As it grows rather reluctantly, but is such a beauty.

Cyclamen coum are the dainty flowers early in the year,

Dark green shiny leaves patterned silvery, boasting white, pink and magenta flowers.

The winter clematis vigorously surprises us,

Climbing vigorously in spite of the cold.

Whilst the sarcococca is a shrub easily grown,

Delightful in its rich scent wafting from tiny flowers.

Ornamental cabbages add zing of colour,

As do the winter berries of pyracantha or callicarpa,

In yellow or orange to regal, beautiful purple,

A shade complimented by the crocus or winter iris.

Shrubs come into their own often earlier than flowers,

Try the December mahonia and eunomymous,

Later followed by the hamamelis’ spidery charm,

Delicate wall covering jasminus golden eranthus.

Skimmia japonica also offer delightful scent,

And the all time favourite snowdrop, must not be forgotten.

As this list is not exclusive,

Surely we can see the winter flower variety

Is there to richly treasure, all for our pleasure.

It would be difficult to select a favourite,

With many a wide variety of choice and in our individuality of personal

preference.

But reference must be mentioned for noting the winter pansy.

This smiling, beguiling, cheery, colourful flower,

An easy to grow attraction to any winter garden.

Not fussy nor needing any particular attention,

A star if an area is bleak and bare .

But really, there is no excuse for this plainness,

Winter interest comes from the winter colour,

A resounding, abounding splendour of the winter flower.

How very generous the Creator is in providing for us.

He knows the weather can be challengingly difficult

With wind, storms of rain or snow, or frosty conditions.

But the Master Craftsman has given permission

For winter flowers to grow in colourful glory,

Winter writes its own individual nature story, one of cheer, if surprising,

beauty.

Father God, You are the Lord of good surprises. Thank You for this being clearly evident in the many winter flowers. their beauty is a thrill we delight in. Amen.

CATEGORY: (NATURE, Winter flowers)