Born February 15

February 15 is the gardener date, always occupied with the delights of flowers, trees, herbs and vegetables in the garden. To this steady creature growing things, their fresh scent in both the day and night air, is all the occupation he needs and often having to go and earn a living is deeply resented. Many try to make a career of working on the land, in farming, parks, landscape gardening or gamekeeping, just to keep themselves outside four walls. Both sexes also adore animals and will have three or four dogs roaming about the house if they can, usually with mongrel blood, and always well-trained because practical February 15 thinks a properly behaved dog is a happy dog. It’s also true to say they think much the same about the human race. Their courtesy is exceptional, utterly charming, with the old-fashioned habit of warmly thanking a telephone caller for calling even if they weren’t really welcome. With February 15, handwritten thank you letters are a must as is polite attention and thoughtfulness paid to older people. They can therefore be sticklers with their children, good as long as it doesn’t become phobic. Which it won’t because they are essentially kind and dislike any form of extreme. February 15 may not wish to make a splash in the world, but she makes an impact in her neighbourhood. Drawn into the social and religious life of the church, she becomes a power in the land. When it comes to organising social events, everybody in the county always wants to come if she’s involved. The men and women are extremely superstitious. Garlic is always hung by the garden gate to ward off evil spirits. Black cats are never kept. Large numbers of shooting stars are always noted for the thunder they’ll bring, and every fairy ring is jumped inside so as not to break the circle (which could bring bad luck) and so that a silent wish may come true.

Body

These fine, imaginative cooks love to serve you something different they have made themselves. And naturally they’ve grown the ingredients. Try Carnation Petal Cream. Fold petals picked in the early morning into sweetened cream. Stand in cool place for several hours, then remove petals and whip cream. It goes beautifully with pears poached in vanilla syrup or with fresh strawberries or blackberries. Scatter a few petals on top. Borage flowers, traditionally thought to be an anti-depressant, newly opened primroses, slightly bitter marigolds, peppery nasturtiums and young broom flower buds are also excellent added to salads.

Mind

You can tell rain is coming when trees rustle their leaves in calm weather and the scarlet pimpernel, known as ‘farmer’s weather glass’, convolvulus, and clover leaves draw their petals and leaves tightly together.