Scrapbook for May

12.05.2026 – Always wait for Frigid Sophie

Twelfth of May. Nought degrees Celsius and frozen rain shards on my balcony this morning; the frost has worked its secret ministry on the wood at the edge of the meadow:

Last night the first of the five Eisheiligen, 'Ice Saints', St Mamertus, handed over to today's saint, St Pankriatus, who once cost me the lives of a dozen lettuce seedlings planted when I was a little young(er) and foolish(er). Between us two, it's personal. Tomorrow St Servatius takes over, then it's the turn of St Bonifatius, finally concluding on Friday 15 May with St Sophia von Rom, called by German gardeners with grim Teutonic humour die Kalte Sophie.

In my village no one dreams of putting out their window-boxes until Frigid Sophie has been and gone, thus respecting the wisdom of the ages.

A couple of weeks ago, during a spell of mild spring weather, a climatologist asserted that, as a result of climate change warming, the fixed dates of the 'Ice Saints' should really now be moved earlier in the year. Fool. 'Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?' [Book of Job, 38:1]. If you listen to people like that you deserve to lose your lettuce and your expensive geraniums.