The first grain harvests have been gathered in, milled and turned into flour, to bake into bread. As an expression of our gratitude, let’s celebrate. Happy Lammas, everyone!
Author: Ashley
Where are all the butterflies?
Blooming buddleia,
At the height of summer;
No butterflies!
As a recorder of butterflies in our little garden I am happy to see that my wonderful buddleia* is enjoying some afternoon sunshine. Unfortunately, I have not recorded any butterflies in the garden since late May. I am advised by the County Recorder that the lack of butterflies may be due to the mild and wet winter, followed by a dull, mild and wet spring! The weather!!! The climate???
My geraniums are still flowering but here are some daisies** that have burst into flower over the last few days.
*The buddleia, Buzz Velvet Red, has shot up this year. It was supposed to be a dwarf variety. All buddleia usually known as ‘butterfly bush’.
**The daisies are actually Leucanthemum superbum white. We also have them in yellow but they are just not as far forward.
Ashley
Summer Solstice 2024
Oh my goodness! Here we are at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and still it doesn’t feel like summer! Whilst we’ve had a few sunny days, the skies have mostly been overcast. Still, the cycle of nature continues to turn and here in our little garden, some of my favourite flowers are blooming, even with overcast skies. Geraniums are relatively easy to grow and there are many hardy varieties to choose from which flower throughout the summer months.
With longer days,
Summer flowers open;
Oh my, geraniums!
Unfortunately, I’ve lost most of their names but I think the 2nd photo shows Johnson’s Blue, and the 3rd photo shows Bob’s Blunder.
Finally, here is a picture from our small garden, under a grey sky:
In the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest point and the wheel of the year begins again. I hope that we do get some warmer days even as each day passes it is a little shorter than the previous one.
Happy Summer Solstice 🧡🌞
Ashley
Rowallane Walled Garden
This photograph was taken towards the end of May and with all the greenery it looks like the summer has arrived. We were in Rowallane Gardens, a favourite haunt of ours when we don’t have to travel too far from home.
There weren’t many people visiting and anyway the gardens are big enough to absorb the crowds. We arrived early and brought a box full of books for their used book shop. That’s at least 40 books we’ve donated this year (only another couple of hundred to go).
I’m a terrible one for plant names and writing them down just makes matters worse! Here they are, from left to right:
Chaerophyllum hirsutum ‘Roseum’ – Marrubium vulgare Horehound – Ranunculus constantinoplitanus ‘Plenus’
Personally, I prefer hardy geraniums and here is a cracker:
Geranium hybrid ‘Ann Folkard’
We did have some lovely warm sunny days at the end of May and the first day of June was a scorcher. However, temperatures have dropped back (10c feels like 8c) and today I actually put the heating on for an hour. It’s supposed to be the summer and in a few weeks time it will be the summer solstice, the longest day! Are you ready to celebrate?
Ashley
Ballyedmond Castle gardens
Looking north into the Mourne Mountains shrouded in cloud
Just before May Day, we were able to visit these gardens. They are private gardens and are only open to the public about half a dozen times per year. Even then one probably only finds out about opening via membership of a gardening club, or as in my case, through a local wildlife group member who is also an RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) member. Many thanks Lee! Only 30 people can visit at any one time and no photographs are allowed to be taken of the house (castle).
The castle is situated on the north shore of Carlingford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland.
I will add a link at the end of this post if you are interested in the house and gardens, as they have a varied history.
Their own temple, where even the Gods can’t get a signal.
Their own harbour and possibly a heli-pad
Their own bandstand
Entrance to the Orangery where we had afternoon tea
“Hurry up, chaps! Tea is served”
“Hoping you have had a pleasant visit”
By the way, it rained almost all of the time we were there! Typical, as the following day the sun shone! Au Contraire!
Ashley
https://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2012/11/ballyedmond-castle.html
Beltain 2024
Beltain,
Welcome to summer;
Rain!
After weeks of grey skies and rain, we’re now seeing a change in the weather. Of course, change is never straightforward and whilst warmer days are on their way, there are sure to be some surprises! On the last day of April, it rained constantly, and today the first day of May, the sun is shining!
In the ancient agricultural calendar, Beltain, or the Festival of Fertility, is usually celebrated at the end of April and the beginning of May and marked as the beginning of summer. It is a time to celebrate the power of the life force; everything is growing and showing! The energy of unions, whether spiritual or physical is alive! The picture of the hawthorn tree, Crataegus monogyna, is relevant to this festival as it brings the spirit of wild places into our lives. The haunt of fairies makes it a magical tree!
The hawthorn is tolerant of strong winds, dry and wet conditions. A small , thorny deciduous tree with small white fragrant flowers; hermaphrodite (both male and female) reinforcing the association with balance and unions. It is also known as the Maythorn or May Tree. Its wood is tough and fine grained sometimes used as a veneer.
Midges,
Dancing above the May tree;
Summer.
I’m a bit late with this post as I was out all day yesterday on a garden visit. More of that soon! That is as long as my photos have come out; it was a very overcast day!
Happy May Day.
Ashley
Thank you, Mike
A dull, wet day…
First blossoms;
Flowers before leaves,
Blackthorn.
The Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) that grows through the hedge in my garden is flowering and on this dull wet day, the flowers shine brightly. It’s only a few days since the Spring Equinox!
Blackthorn is the fourteenth tree in the Celtic Tree Ogham, STRAIPH. It is symbolised in the balance between light and dark. Physically, the tree is challenging as it grows into an impenetrable thicket. Its thorns being very sharp, the tree is a safe haven for nesting birds.
Ashley
Spring Equinox 2024
Plish, plash,
The bird bath overflows;
Spring rain.
Spring rain,
Waters the earth;
Buds open.
Buds open,
Bright, in the dull day;
The spring equinox.
Yes! At last the Spring Equinox has arrived, the time when day and night are of equal length. So for a few months, from now until the Summer Solstice in June, the light of day will increase.
In the Pagan tradition the day is known as the Festival of Balance; inner and outer, the unconscious and the conscious worlds are in balance. What goes on in our minds is reflected in our actions, so we should try to understand this perspective and use it to bring healing between ourselves and the outer world.
~~~~~
It is a year since I began writing about and making a set of Celtic Tree Ogham sticks to sit alongside the eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year. For now, the last two trees that I shall write about, associated with the Spring Equinox, are Alder and Ash.
Alder: Alnus glutinosa. Alder is the third tree in the Celtic Tree Ogham: FEARN. F. The Alder loves to be by rivers and streams where its roots come into contact with water. Its roots are able to fix nitrogen from the air and the wood is very durable when constantly wet. It has been used in building bridges and the piles in medieval cathedrals.
Ash: Fraxinus excelsior. Ash is the fifth tree in the Celtic Tree Ogham: NION. N. Known in Norse mythology as Yggdrasil, the Tree of the World, which links all the levels of existence. With its straight growth and grain, Ash makes good walking sticks and staffs. It also makes beautifully straight arrows for traditional archery and whilst Yew (Taxus baccata) is considered the supreme wood for longbows, Ash will make a very serviceable longbow.
Here is a photo of all the Ogham sticks I’ve made over the year. You will be able to see where there are gaps in my set. Left to right, the first ten are all there but there are five missing from the next set of ten. I am reliant on friends and colleagues to keep me posted when suitable wood becomes available and I will never just cut into a tree without first asking permission and especially asking the tree for its blessing.
To finish this longer than usual post on a light-hearted note, I’m sure you will have guessed my favourite tree. Ash, of course! In Old English a ley was a meadow or grassland. Put the two together and I am a meadow with ash trees! 😉😂
Enjoy the Spring Equinox, this celebration of balance and awakening.
Ashley
