Pink Christmas

SIR – Francis Eastwood (Letters, November 24) thinks he may be wearing shorts on Christmas Day as he witnesses the first snowdrops appearing in his garden. I, too, am puzzled by the weather. I have now put my thick, snowproof gamekeeper trousers back into storage as I enjoy seeing clumps of pink carnations budding in my shrubberies.

As this flower is said to express gratitude, I can only surmise that this winter will be mild and gentle. Ron Kirby

Dorchester, Dorset

SIR – Francis Eastwood’s snowdrop may be a Galanthus reginae-olgae like mine, which has been flowering since about November 10. Ursula Gilmore

Bearsted, Kent