Postcard from Spain
Sea daffodils, public parks and dune systems...
Dear flower friends, loyal readers and fellow plant lovers,
Hey, how are you? It’s been so long! It’s mid August - late mid August if I’m being precise. I left you with the vague promise of a postcard from Spain and I didn’t, I couldn’t, I wilted in the heat. I returned from the Mediterranean with nothing but three decorative bowls and a kitsch fan - although, and perhaps more importantly, I came home pretty relaxed. The heat gets into my bones and knocks me out, it renders me incapable of anything more strenuous than the gentle lift and flex as the hinges of my elbow and wrist work together to refill my glass.
But of course I inspected the plant life! And here are some facts I brought back with me:
I wasn’t expecting it to be so verdant, so lush and green. I could have taken up residence in Parque de la Alameda, Marbella, a beautiful place. We need to plant more trees, plant things on things, plants and plants and more plants. Plant plants everywhere!
Oleander - what the heck? The shock stays with me! Oleander was quite literally everywhere - outside our front door, lining the pathways through the park, yet, curiously, I was not moved to inspect it. Thankfully. Because… Oleander is so toxic, humans don't even have to ingest it to experience symptoms of poisoning — just touching the plant and tree sap with bare hands or inhaling the smoke of burning oleander can induce toxic effects.1 Yikes!
The Artola Dune System is a beautiful place containing an extraordinary range of plants including sea daffodils and turbinate juniper (a prehistoric plant). One day, I will write about my home town of Hoylake, a town divided by the natural restoration of the beach, which, it is hoped, will one day form a dune system. This dunes system will provide this western most town on the Wirral Peninsula with an enhanced level of natural protection from both the sea and the advancing sands. Here’s a post2 about this strange story of resistance to nature. Dunas de Artola is a beautiful place, as are the sand dunes at Formby Beach. Hoylake is largely built on sand dunes. Since 2019 I have enjoyed watching the beach change as nature has been given a change to take hold. The beach now teems not only with the wading birds we are used to but flocks of song birds feeding on the newly established grasses, reeds and sedges.
On that note I will leave you for now. This is merely a postcard after all! I’ll be back imminently to explore a question which always leaves me searching for more: what’s in a name? Is it possible my love affair with plants and botanical art been informed by my name? Do you have a plant or flower name? Do you believe this has in anyway influenced your life? I have an unusual name and there are many stories attached to it - to be shared and explored in my next letter.
Until then, with love as always, Ling
PS I know I said I wouldn’t but I can’t help sharing my new course listings here. I have four sessions coming up in September and October and am planning evening classes as the nights start to draw in. Pop over to paperbydragonfly.com to sign up for updates or head straight to the schedule for more details!
howstuffworks.com / google search
The Post, here on Substack