Daffodils and Leeks

March 1st is Dydd Dewi Sant,  the feast day of St. David's, the patron saint of Wales. The day is celebrated in nearby Colwyn Bay where children come out from schools to join in the parade and to wave their Welsh flags. Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon flag is believed to have been the battle standard of King Arthur and was the banner of Henry Vll of England whose ancestry was Welsh.

 Personally, it's a day to bring in big bunches daffs, our national flower. All that yellow feels so good after the grey and gloomy winter months. Some varieties have the added bonus of a beautiful scent. We should also be cooking with leeks, our other national symbol. Perhaps we could try and grill them over charcoal as they do in Cataluña with their delicious calçots and dip them in almond and red pepper sauce.

These two plants are connected in the Welsh language. The word for leeks is Cenhinen, the word for daffodils, Cenhinen Pedr, Peter's leeks.