Delicate blooms

The flowers that bloom in time for Easter have always made me smile. There is something about their delicate petals and soft colours; they are perfectly suited for this season of growth and renewal.

Pasqueflowers, primroses and snake’s-head fritillaries are Oxfordshire’s quintessential spring flowers. The pasqueflower has a woody stem and petals that range in colour from purple to blue, and even to white. Primroses have oval leaves and pale yellow flowers; their intoxicating scent makes them a particular favourite.

Snake’s-head fritillaries are especially treasured because they are Oxfordshire’s county flower. The chequered pink flowers begin to emerge in April in wet grasslands. The cup-shaped flowers were a common sight before the Second World War, but now much of their habitat has been destroyed.

Spinning a yarn

Not only are these flowers beautiful to see, but they have a special place in our culture — often being referred to in folklore as symbols of Easter and new life.

The pasqueflower is also known as the ‘anemone of Passiontide’. The common name ‘pasque’ derives from the word ‘paschal’ and means ‘of Easter’ — the time it flowers. The entire flower is covered with silky hairs, giving them an angelic glow in the spring sunshine. According to Roman legend, the pasqueflower first bloomed from the goddess Venus’ tears as they dripped down her face.

The primrose is revered as a spring symbol because of its delicate nature and soft colouring. Its pale petals remind us of youth — springing forth from the cold ground to herald the beginning of Easter. Primroses have traditionally been used in the making of ‘Pasche eggs’, where a pattern is added to boiled eggs by the tying of flowers and onion skins around the shells during cooking.

The flower of the snake’s-head fritillary is perched atop a long, delicate stem and droops downward. It resembles a person with his head bowed — a sign of humility and virtue. The tradition of ‘Fritillary Sunday’ is still observed in the village of Ducklington where a field is opened to the public once a year so people can enjoy the splendour of these plants.

Where to go

These elegant flowers are treasures of Oxfordshire’s countryside but their habitat is being threatened, and now they can only be enjoyed in a few select spots. Iffley Meadows Nature Reserve, near Oxford, is an excellent place to see snake’s-head fritillaries in the spring. A survey of the flowers takes place annually by staff and volunteers who sweep the meadows like they are investigating a crime scene. Over the 26 years that Iffley Meadows has been under BBOWT’s care, the fritillaries have increased from only 500 plants to more than 65,000 at their peak.

Hartslock Nature Reserve, near Goring, is the perfect place to see the pasqueflower whilst enjoying fantastic views of the Thames. And delicate primroses can be spotted at Foxholes, near Shipton-under-Wychwood. Why not head over with your family and friends for a lovely spring afternoon? For more information, visit www.bbowt.org.uk