Mid winter;
Reflecting the growing light,
Silver Birch.
Today, the 21st December, is the Winter Solstice, and in celebration of this day, I turn to a special tree, the birch. Silver Birch (Betula pendula), although having a relatively short lifespan, perhaps up to one hundred years, will grow quickly if left alone and transform an open landscape into a woodland.
In the Celtic Tree Ogham, it is the first tree, Beith. B and is known for its life-giving properties, its vitality, its nourishment of the ground in which it grows and therefore, in our human world, we think of new beginnings and new opportunities.
In Praise of Trees
This morning, this evening,
everyday;
in praise of our oldest companions,
and of the Earth;
sing, out loud!
Mother Earth,
we welcome the growing light
back into this bleak life;
the bright light
of hope.
To everyone who visits here, have a wonderful Winter Solstice, and I wish you all heart-happy good health for the new year and the new season.
Ashley
A Different View 
Happy Winter Solstice, Ashley! As always, I’m shocked at how quickly one Winter Solstice follows another 🙂
Thank you Friedrich for your comment here. The years roll around so quickly, especially when there is much to do! Happy midwinter. 🎄
Happy Winter Solstice, I do love that day as the days grow longer after that. 🙂
Stay warm and enjoy the season too, dear Ashley.
Dear Ute, thank you. I’m staying warm but there is no rest for me at the moment, although Christmas Day this year will be very quiet indeed just a couple of phone calls this year and no visiting. It’ll be just me and my Christmas Carol. 🤗❤️
Dear Asley, that is a good Combo, enjoy a peacefull Christmas!
I love the birch, Ashley. A wonderful Winter Solstice to you, too 🙂 ❤
Silver Birch are really beautiful trees. Happy midwinter, dear Rosaliene. 🤗🎄
Thanks very much, Ashley 🙂 ❤
Beautiful ode to the birch tree and winter solstice, Ashley. I have 3 and the gardeners always want to take them down.. Over my dead body.. xxx
I should think so Cindy, so please just tell those gardeners to who the boss is! Happy midwinter. 🤗🎄
Love that ha! Will do!!! 🤗💕🤗
Beautitul poetry and art work Ashley. Happy Solstice!
Dear Katelon, thank you and happy midwinter to you too. 🤗🎄
Nice haiga (hokku & painting), and longer poem In Praise of Trees, plus the Ogham sticks. Let’s have a good New Year!
Thank you, Edo-sama. Like you, my Christmas Carol and I are looking forward to a happy healthy New Year. 🙇♂️🎄
I do miss our beautiful New England birches, here in Hawaii. Not enough to leave 😉 but your post revives my appreciation for them. Blessings, Ashley!
Thank you Bela. Happy midwinter 🤗🙏
♥️
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year Ashley. Silver Birch trees are so beautiful. 🌲
Thank you Sharon, wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year. 🎄🤗
Hi Ashley!!!
While eating some leftover patjuk my mum made for the Winter Solstice
(in Korea, we traditionally eat red bean porridge on this day), I suddenly thought you might have written a hokku — so I came to have a look. 🙂 ehehe
And of course, there it was!
I always find myself looking forward to your words whenever the seasons turn. ☃️
Thank you, as always, for such beautiful writing.
Wishing you a truly wonderful Christmas and year’s end, and a New Year filled with good health and many smiles. 😆🙏
Dear Migy, your lovely comments fill me with good cheer! I always look forward to hearing from you. 🤗
From my writing, it may not appear so, but this year and especially the last quarter have been traumatic. My wife had major heart surgery at the end of November but even before that the world beneath our feet had changed. My Christmas Carol is at home now and recovering and so indeed we are looking forward to a brighter New Year.
You write of patjuk, red bean porridge and I wonder 🤔 how you celebrate this time of year, not just in foodie ways but in terms of the seasonal change too!
I’d love to write more to you but this is not the place. Again, 🤗 thank you for your wonderful comment about my writing; truly, I’m honoured. 🙇♂️
May your Christmas and New Year be blessed with happiness and good health, surrounded by loving family. 🤗💌💖🎄