Dwarf Iris reticulata bulbs are small miracles of hardiness, coming up in freezing cold conditions and displaying distinctly unwintery deep blues and purples. They can also be forced in bowls for a few days of intense colours and unusual markings in January. In Winter Landscape (Scottish Gallery, exhibited 2014) Winifred Nicholson clearly applied her personal theories of colour, allowing it plenty of "area [and] space".

Amaryllis bulbs are ready to plant now for spectacularly large and colourful flowers in a few weeks' time. This is Amaryllis (1967, Abbot Hall), a later work by Winifred Nicholson but still with her hallmark brilliance with colour and light. 

Happy New Year to all our readers! To welcome in 2023 we have simple, clear, beautiful paintings by Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981) who captures the fresh light of winter and the precious flowers of the season. Scented narcissi from the Isles of Scilly are already available and, happily, bunches of daffodils will soon appear in markets and shops.  

A detail from the spectacular scheme of windows (c.1900) which fills the recently restored Lady Chapel in Gloucester Cathedral with glorious colour such as these fabulous pinks. It was designed by Christopher Whall (1849-1924), the most influential figure in Arts & Crafts stained glass, together with his daughter Veronica (1887-1967) who was taught by and worked with her father. This is one of Veronica's many charming children and angels. Happy Christmas to all our readers - the Post will return on January 3rd.

Harry Harvey (1922-2011) created many windows in what could now be described as a fresh, vibrant, mid-century modern style. He was a Yorkshireman who loved dogs and put many into his windows. He included this lovely sheepdog to go with the shepherds in his Adoration of the Magi and Shepherds window (1958) in St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham. 

A cup of tea or lunch in Bill's Kitchen in the Grade I listed All Saints Church in the centre of Hereford allows you to sit right next to some of the loveliest of windows by MEA Rope (1891-1988) and to examine all the charming details, including the animals in this wooden Noah's Ark set (1944 Nativity window). Margaret EA Rope was one of many outstanding female stained glass designers of the twentieth century (as was her cousin Margaret Agnes Rope (1882-1953)).

A twentieth century illustration of the joy of skating and games on ice as described so memorably by William  Wordsworth (1770-1850) in 'The Prelude' (pub. 1850). "It was a time of rapture: clear and loud/The village clock toll'd six; I wheel'd about,/Proud and exulting, like an untired horse,/That cares not for its home.—All shod with steel,/We hiss'd along the polish'd ice, in games/ Confederate". This is one of many lovely vignettes of everyday life in a Benedicite window (1948) by Christopher Webb (1886-1966) in St George of England, Toddington.