The secret code of blooms We can’t wait to revisit Five pick-your-own fruit farms

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS Odessa Begay (HarperDesign, £25)

THE use of flowers and floral arrangements to send coded messages is a practice dating back thousands of years and across civilisations, found within literature, the decorative arts, religion and economics. Floriography, or the language of flowers, became hugely popular in the Victorian era as a covert way to convey emotions. This fascinating subject matter is explored by artist and author Odessa Begay in her beautifully illustrated and newly published compendium.

If you’re a fan of adult colouring books, you may be familiar with Begay’s past titles such as Little Birds, Edgar Allan

Poe and Jingle Bells Christmas Carol. Or perhaps you have her work hanging in your home: the Kansas City-based illustrator also designs eyecatching wallpaper.

Covering 50 of the world’s most popular flowers, each entry is accompanied with a mixture of botanical lore, literary excerpts and anecdotal gems.

We learn that a rose-coloured acacia represents friendship, while the white variety is a nod to elegance and in yellow means a concealed or secret love. A lotus denotes silence, lavender equates to distrust and hydrangea suggests boastfulness.

Magnolia is synonymous with perseverance, honeysuckle that of devoted love and oleander warns beware.

Scotland’s national flower, the thistle, has its own section where Begay talks about how it came to earn a potent symbolism: intrusion.

This is one that pre-dates Victorian times considerably, attributed by the author to a popular Scottish legend from the 15th century where the Danes, attempting to attack these shores under the cloak of darkness, moved barefoot to muffle their advance.

A cluster of thistles caused the unshod soldiers to cry out in surprise and pain, alerting the sleeping Scottish forces.

The thistle was adopted as the national insignia, representing protection and bravery.

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CHARLETON FARM

If lockdown has turned you into the next Mary Berry, why not go a step further and pick your own fruit for your baking. Charleton farm is on the hillside by Montrose and you can pick your own fruit throughout the summer months.

You can also buy fresh free range eggs as well as homemade preserves and other local produce. You’ll also find a coffee shop, gift shop and somewhere for the kids to play. The farm is one mile north of Montrose. Charleton Fruit Farm, Montrose, DD10 9EW Open daily from 10am-4pm (current restrictions may affect these hours)

Phone: 01674 830226

WEST CRAIGIE FARM SHOP

West Craigie gives you the opportunity to pick your own fruit, from a variety of in-season berries including strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries.

Or visit the farm shop and purchase some of the fresh fruit they have on offer without having to do any of the picking yourself. You can also pick up some of the jams and chutneys they make from the fruits from their farm. Entry for their pick your own fruit farm can be booked online and costs around £5 per person.

West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9TR

Phone: 0131 3191048

CAIRNIE FARMING CO

There’s a variety of fruit and vegetables to pick at Cairnie Farm in Fife, but it’s important to check their website before you go to check the conditions and what they have on offer. The farm is only two and a half miles from Cupar in Fife. There’s also a corn maze on site, along with a tea room garden with picnic seating selling home baking and jams. Fruit picking is available from 10am-4.30pm daily (although current restrictions may apply).

Cairnie Farm, Cairnie, Cupar, KY15 4QD Phone: 01334 655610

EAST YONDERTON FARM

At East Yonderton, customers can pick a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the season. This farm is easy to access from the M8 motorway with customers coming from across Scotland. The typical season at East Yonderton from

July onwards gives you the opportunity to pick a variety of fruits including strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries and blackcurrants.

East Yonderton Farm, Innchinnan, Renfrew, Renfrewshire PA4 9LP

Phone: 0141 889 3492

WESTER HARDMUIR

You can pick fruit from Wester Hardmuir from 8am until dusk daily (although current restrictions may apply). They have a range of fruit and vegetables that you can pick yourself. As the season progresses there will be other fruits available including raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries, among others.

There’s also the option to purchase pre-picked apples, plums and cherries from the farm shop.

Wester Hardmuir, A96, Auldearn, 2 Nairn, IV12 5QG. Phone: 01309 641259