St Fiacre (died c 670)

Born in Ireland, St Fiacre became a monk and was known as a skilled herbalist (like the fictional ‘Brother Cadfael’!) – but as his fame spread, he sought solitude and the simple eremitical life in the forests of France.

His Hermitage was at a village now known as Saint-Fiacre, where he showed hospitality to travellers and maintained a vegetable and herb garden, so he is often depicted holding a gardener’s spade. He is Patron Saint of gardeners, of vegetable and flower growers, herbalists and florists.

Read the Wikipedia article about St Fiacre