White

In Western culture white is the colour  most often associated with beginnings and the new. In the Bible, light was created immediately after the heavens and the earth. In Christianity, children are baptised wearing white, and they wear white for their first communion. Christ after his Resurrection is traditionally portrayed dressed in white. Our Queen traditionally wears white when she opens the session of Parliament.


So, to celebrate the New Year, here is sprig of a white Hebe, probably the willow leaved Hebe Hebe salicifolia. Hebes are native to New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and to Chile. However this one originated in Swindon, in the garden of one of Mrs Talpa's exiled relatives.


In a fit of nostalgia I have also back-blipped an entry for New Year's Day 1971.